Synthetic Aperture Radar Polarimetry

This book describes the application of polarimetric syntheticaperture radar to earth remote sensing based on research at theNASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). This book synthesizes allcurrent research to provide practical information for both thenewcomer and the expert in radar polarimetry. Thetext offers a concise description of the mathematicalfundamentals illustrated with many examples using SAR data, with amain focus on remote sensing of the earth.
The book begins with basics of synthetic aperture radar toprovide the basis for understanding how polarimetric SAR images areformed and gives an introduction to the fundamentals of radarpolarimetry. It goes on to discuss more advanced polarimetricconcepts that allow one to infer more information about the terrainbeing imaged. In order to analyze data quantitatively, the signalsmust be calibrated carefully, which the book addresses in achapter summarizing the basic calibration algorithms. The bookconcludes with examples of applying polarimetric analysis toscattering from rough surfaces, to infer soil moisture from radarsignals.