Appraisal of dual polarimetric radar vegetation index in first order microwave scattering algorithm using sentinel–1A (C - band) and ALOS - 2 (L - band) SAR data

Abstract

The dual polarimetric study including degree of polarization ((Formula presented.)) and energy span (λ1+ λ2) for vegetation targets infer the accuracy of vegetation algorithms. The Sentinel − 1 A and ALOS − 2 satellite data were utilized for dual polarimetric radar vegetation index (DPRVI), polarimetric radar vegetation index (PRVI) and radar vegetation index (RVI) computation and simulation of backscattering coefficient (σ0 (dB)) at VV polarization. The DPRVI, PRVI and RVI were computed at VV + VH and HH + HV polarizations, respectively. The simulation of σ0 (dB) at HH + HV can be show better results than VV + VH polarization using derived radar vegetation descriptors (V). The DPRVI, PRVI and RVI showed higher R2 and lower RMSE values at L–band than C - band. The DPRVI at L–band (HH + HV polarization) was indicated highest R2 = 0.91 and lower RMSE = 0.31 (dB) among all proposed V in the algorithm. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.