Relationship between Forest Stands Characteristics and NASA/JPL AIRSAR Polarimetric Data Over Mountainous Terrain

The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between polarimetric radar backscatters and stand characteristics over the mountainous forest area. L- and P-band full polarimetric airborne SAR data obtained in September 2000 were processed to compare with forest stand maps and ground collected stand variables. After the geometric registration of SAR image, mean radar backscatters were extracted for those ground plots where the stand parameters, such as tree height, DBH, and basal area, were measured during and after the SAR data acquisition. Preliminary analysis was focused on the topographic influence of radar backscattering under the homogeneous forest stand condition. Topographic effects, assessed by the local incidence angles, were different obvious in L-band data while it was not clear with P-band data.