• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.35 no.6_4
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• pp.1373-1389
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• 2019

KOMPSAT-5 is the first satellite in Korea equipped with X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument and has been operated since August 2013. KOMPSAT-5 is used to monitor the global environment according to its observation purpose and the availability of KOMPSAT-5 is also highlighted as the need of high resolution wind data for investigating the coastal region. However, the previous study for the validation of wind derived from KOMPSAT-5 showed that the accuracy is lower than that of other SAR satellites. Therefore, in this study, we developed the correction equation of normalized radar cross section (NRCS or backscattering coefficient) for improvement of wind from the KOMPSAT-5 and validated the effect of the equation using the in-situ measurement of ocean buoys. Theoretical estimated NRCS and observed NRCS from KOMPSAT-5 showed linear relationship with incidence angle. Before applying the correction equation, the accuracy of the estimated wind speed showed the relatively high root-mean-square errors (RMSE) of 2.89 m s^-1 and bias of -0.55 m s^-1. Such high errors were significantly reduced to the RMSE of 1.60 m s^-1 and bias of -0.38 m s^-1 after applying the correction equation. The improvement effect of the correction equation showed dependency relying on the range of incidence angle.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.81-91
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• 2021

Synthetic Apreture Radar (SAR) is attracting attentions with its possibility of producing high resolution data that can be used for soil moisture estimation. High resolution soil moisture data enables more specific observation of soil moisture than existing soil moisture products from other satellites. It can also be used for studies of wildfire, landslide, and flood. The SAR based soil moisture estimation should be conducted considering vegetation, which affects backscattering signals from the SAR sensor. In this study, a SAR based soil moisture estimation at regions covered with various vegetation types on the middle area of Korea (Cropland, Grassland, Forest) is conducted. The representative backscattering model, Water Cloud Model (WCM) is used for soil moisture estimation over vegetated areas. Radar Vegetation Index (RVI) and in-situ soil moisture data are used as input factors for the model. Total 6 study areas are selected for 3 vegetation types according to land cover classification with 2 sites per each vegetation type. Soil moisture evaluation result shows that the accuracy of each site stands out in the order of grassland, forest, and cropland. Forested area shows correlation coefficient value higher than 0.5 even with the most dense vegetation, while cropland shows correlation coefficient value lower than 0.3. The proper vegetation and soil moisture conditions for SAR based soil moisture estimation are suggested through the results of the study. Future study, which utilizes additional ancillary vegetation data (vegetation height, vegetation type) is thought to be necessary.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.590-598
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• 2002

We have numerically analyzed the electromagnetic wave scattering from randomly rough dielectric surfaces by using the finite volume time domain (FVTD) method. We have then shown that the present method yields a reasonable solution even at low-grazing angle (LGA). It should be noted that the number of sampling points per wavelength should be increased when more accurate numerical results are required, which fact makes the computer simulation impossible at LGA for a stable result. However, when the extrapolation is used for calculating the scattered field, an accurate result can be estimated. If we want to obtain the ratio of backscattering between the horizontal and vertical polarization, we do not need the large number of sampling points. The results are compared with the experimental data.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.7
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• pp.1571-1574
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• 2017

In the present work, the gamma ray backscattering technique was used to determine the effective atomic numbers for certain binary alloys. With the help of a muffle furnace, the binary alloys were synthesized using the melt quenching technique with different compositions of $_{82}Pb$, $_{50}Sn$, and $_{30}Zn$. The intensity distribution of backscattered photons from radioactive isotope $^{22}Na$ (511 keV) was recorded with the help of GAMMARAD5 [$76mm{\times}76mm$ NaI(Tl) scintillator detector] and analyzed as a function of both atomic number and thickness of the target material. The effective atomic numbers for the same binary alloys were also computed theoretically using the atomic to electronic cross-section method with the help of the mass attenuation coefficient database of WinXCom (2001). Good agreement was observed between theoretical and experimental results for the effective atomic numbers of all the selected alloys.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.47-60
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• 2017

The permafrost active layer plays an important role in permafrost dynamics. Ecological patterns, processes, and water and ice contents in the active layer are spatially and temporally complex depending on landscape heterogeneity and local-scale variations in hydrological processes. Although there has been emerging interest in the application of optical remote sensing techniques to permafrost environments, optical sensors are significantly limited in accessing information on near surface geo-cryological conditions. The primary objective of this study was to investigate capability of L-band SAR data for monitoring spatio-temporal variability of permafrost ecosystems and underlying soil conditions. This study exploits information from different polarimetric SAR observables in relation to permafrost environmental conditions. Experimental results show that each polarimetric radar observable conveys different information on permafrost environments. In the case of the dual-pol mode, the radar observables consist of two backscattering powers and one correlation coefficient between polarimetric channels. Among them, the dual-pol scattering powers are highly sensitive to freeze/thaw transition and can discriminate grasslands or ponds in thermokarst area from other permafrost ecosystems. However, it is difficult to identify the ground conditions with dual-pol observables. Additional backscattering powers and correlation coefficients obtained from quad-pol mode help understanding seasonal variations ofradar scattering and assessing geo-cryological information on soil layers. In particular, co-pol coherences atHV-basis and circular-basis were found to be very usefultools for mapping and monitoring near surface soil properties.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.258-261
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• 2007

Although there have been lack of studies using X-band SAR data particularly for forestry application as compared to C-, and L-band SAR data, it has a potential to distinguish tree species because most signals are backscattered on the top of canopy. This study aimed to compare signal characteristics of multi-band SAR data including X-band for classifying tree species. The data used for the study are SIR-C/X-SAR data (X-, C-, L-band) obtained on Oct. 3, 1994 over the forest area near Seoul, S. Korea. Thirty ground sample plots were collected per each tree species. Initial comparison of backscattering coefficients among three SAR bands shows that X-band data showed better separation of tree species than C- and L-band SAR data irrespective of polarization. The weak penetrating in canopy layer might be possible source of information for X-band data to be useful for the classification of forest species and cover type mapping.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.763-772
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• 2000

The Radiative Transfer Model(RTM) for computation of microwave polarimetric backscattering coefficients of a various types of vegitation canopies has been examined in this paper. Leaves in the vegitation canopy are modeled by rectangular resistive sheets, which sizes and orientations are randomly distributed. Surface roughness and soil moisture of soil surface are considered in this computation. The backscattering coefficients of grasslands are computed for various values of radar parameters and canopy parameters. A polarimetric scatterometer radar system at 15 GHz has been used for measurement of the scattering coefficient from a grass canopy and a cabbage canopy. The computation results obtained by the RTM for the canopies are compared with the measurement for examination of the RTM.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.255-261
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• 2002

Strong and coherent radar backscattering signals are observed over oyster sea farms that consist of artificial structures installed on the bottom. We successfully obtained 21 coherent interferograms from 11 JERS-1 SAR data sets even though orbital baselines (up to 2 km) or temporal baselines (up to 1 year) were relatively large. The coherent phases preserved in the sea farms are probably formed by double bouncing from sea surface and the sea farming structures, and consequently they are correlated with tide height (or instantaneous sea level). Phase unwrapping is required to restore the absolute sea level. We show that radar backscattering intensity is roughly correlated with the sea surface height, and utilize the fact to determine the wrapping counts. While the SAR image intensity gives a rough range of absolute sea level, the interferometric phases provide the detailed relative height variations within a limit of $2{\pi}$ (or 15.3 cm) with respect to the sea level at the moment of the master data acquisition. A combined estimation results in an instantaneous sea level. The radar measurements were verified using tide gauge records, and the results yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.96 with an r.m.s. error of 6.0 cm. The results demonstrate that radar interferometry is a promising approach to sea level measurement in the near coastal regions.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.221-227
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• 2010

Aerosol size distribution provides good information for predicting weather changes and understanding cloud formation. Aerosol extinction coefficient and backscattering coefficient are measured by many scientists, but these parameters depend not only on aerosol size but on aerosol concentrations. An algorithm has been developed to measure aerosol parameters such as ${\AA}$ngstr$\ddot{o}$m exponent, color ratio, and LIDAR ratio without any assumptions by using two wavelength rotational Raman LIDAR signals. These parameters are good indicators for the aerosol size. And we can find ${\AA}$ngstr$\ddot{o}$m exponent, color ratio, and LIDAR ratio under various weather conditions. Finally, it can be seen that the ${\AA}$ngstr$\ddot{o}$m exponent has an inverse relationship to the particle size of the aerosol and the color ratio is linearly dependent on the aerosol size. An ${\AA}$ngstr$\ddot{o}$m exponent from 1.2 to 3.1, a color ratio from 0.28 to 1.04, and a LIDAR ratio 66.9 sr at 355 nm and 32.6 sr at 532 nm near the cloud were obtained.

• Korean Journal of Geomatics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2002

Accurate classification of water area is an preliminary step to accurately analyze the flooded area and damages caused by flood. This step is especially useful for monitoring the region where annually repeating flood is a problem. The accurate estimation of flooded area can ultimately be utilized as a primary source of information for the policy decision. Although SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) imagery with its own energy source is sensitive to the water area, its shadow effect similar to the reflectance signature of the water area should be carefully checked before accurate classification. Especially when we want to identify small flood area with mountainous environment, the step for removing shadow effect turns out to be essential in order to accurately classify the water area from the SAR imagery. In this paper, the flood area was classified and monitored using multi-temporal RADARSAT SAR images of Ok-Chun and Bo-Eun located in Chung-Book Province taken in 12th (during the flood) and 19th (after the flood) of August, 1998. We applied several steps of geometric and radiometric calculations to the SAR imagery. First we reduced the speckle noise of two SAR images and then calculated the radar backscattering coefficient $(\sigma^0)$. After that we performed the ortho-rectification via satellite orbit modeling developed in this study using the ephemeris information of the satellite images and ground control points. We also corrected radiometric distortion caused by the terrain relief. Finally, the water area was identified from two images and the flood area is calculated accordingly. The identified flood area is analyzed by overlapping with the existing land use map.