Keywords
Amazon forest, QuikSCAT, SeaWinds, calibration, radar cross section
Abstract
The SeaWinds-on-QuikSCAT (QuikSCAT) and SeaWinds-on-ADEOS-2 (SeaWinds) scatterometers measure the normalized radar backscatter (O) of the earth's surface. These identical radar sensors are on different spaceborne platforms in similar orbits. QuikSCAT and SeaWinds data are used to infer near-surface wind vectors, polar sea-ice extent, polar-ice melt events, etc. In order to verify the relative calibration of these sensors, a simple cross calibration based on land backscatter measurements is performed. A first-order polynomial model is used to remove the incidence angle dependence of O for selected regions of the Amazon rainforest and the Sahara Desert. It is shown that the two sensors are well-calibrated to each other and require no bias corrections. Additionally, evidence of a diurnal cycle in the Amazon rainforest backscatter is given.
Original Publication Citation
Kunz, L. B., and D. G. Long. "Calibrating SeaWinds and QuikSCAT Scatterometers using Natural Land Targets." Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, IEEE 2.2 (25): 182-6
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Long, David G. and Kunz, Lucas B., "Calibrating SeaWinds and QuikSCAT scatterometers using natural land targets" (2005). Faculty Publications. 387.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/387
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2005-04-01
Permanent URL
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/1025
Publisher
IEEE
Language
English
College
Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology
Department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Copyright Status
© 2005 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE.
Copyright Use Information
http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/