• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 2012

Microwave remote sensing can help monitor the land surface water cycle, crop growth and soil moisture. A ground-based polarimetric scatterometer has an advantage for continuous crop using multi-polarization and multi-frequencies and various incident angles have been used extensively in a frequency range expanding from L-band to Ka-band. In this study, we analyzed the relationships between L-, C- and X-band signatures and soil moisture content over the whole soybean growth period. Polarimetric backscatter data at L-, C- and X-bands were acquired every 10 minutes. L-band backscattering coefficients were higher than those observed using C- or X-band over the period. Backscattering coefficients for all frequencies and polarizations increased until Day Of Year (DOY) 271 and then decreased until harvesting stage (DOY 294). Time serious of soil moisture content was not a corresponding with backscattering over the whole growth stage, although it increased relatively until early August (R2, DOY 224). We conducted the relationship between the backscattering coefficients of each band and soil moisture content. Backscattering coefficients for all frequencies were not correlated with soil moisture content when considered over the entire stage ($r{\leq}0.50$). However, we found that L-band HH polarization was correlated with soil moisture content (r=0.90) when Leaf Area Index (LAI)<2. Retrieval equations were developed for estimating soil moisture content using L-band HH polarization. Relation between L-HH and soil moisture shows exponential pattern and highly related with soil moisture content ($R^2=0.92$). Results from this study show that backscattering coefficients of radar scatterometer appear effective to estimate soil moisture content.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.316-318
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• 2003

An eigen-analysis of the coherency matrix provides the polarimetric scattering mechanisms with the matrix characterizing parameters. In this paper, the coherency matrices of deciduous and coniferous vegetation are calculated using the analytical method. The Generalized Rayleigh-Gans approximation is used to model backscattering from distributed coniferous and deciduous leaves. The characteristics of eigen-parameters of simulated coherency matrix for deciduous and coniferous leaves with respect to the leaf shapes and orientations are illustrated.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 1988

Multiyear ice is quite thick in general, and it needs to be distinguished from thinner types of ice because it represents a severe navigational hazard. Here, models are described for the radar backscatter from multiyear sea ice, based on simple scattering layers. Under cold conditions, the radiative transfer volume-scatter model can describe the backscattering from multiyear ice for frequencies higher than about X-band, while the surface scattering contribution has to be included for lower frequencies. A simple semi-empirical model is shown to be a good approximation to the radiative transfer model in describing the volume scattering from multiyear ice.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.116-122
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• 2015

A simulation is applied to evaluate sea surface observations such as wave heights and surface currents by using a microwave Doppler radar. It is reported that the microwave irradiation width on the sea surface and Fourier transform time taken to sample data for frequency analysis affect Doppler spectra. To investigate the influences by these parameters, Doppler spectra are simulated with various numerical sea surface waves with currents. From the results, in the case of the microwave irradiation width is five times smaller than the wavelength of the sea surface wave, and the Fourier transform time is also five times shorter than the period of the sea surface wave, there is a possibility to measure wave heights accurately with a Doppler radar. In addition, relative surface currents can be estimated by analysis of long Fourier transform time. The simulation results showed the appropriate observing conditions with a microwave Doppler radar.

• 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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• 2008.10a
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• pp.441-444
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• 2008

This paper describes the development of a circularly polarized microstrip antenna, as a part of the Circularly Polarized Synthetic Aperture Radar (CP-SAR) sensor which is currently under developed at the Microwave Remote Sensing Laboratory (MRSL) in Chiba University. CP-SAR is a new type of sensor developed for the purpose of remote sensing. With this sensor, lower-noise data/image will be obtained due to the absence of depolarization problems from propagation encounter in linearly polarized synthetic aperture radar. As well the data/images obtained will be investigated as the Axial Ratio Image (ARI), which is a new data that hopefully will reveal unique various backscattering characteristics. The sensor will be mounted on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) which will be aimed for fundamental research and applications. The microstrip antenna works in the frequency of 1.27 GHz (L-Band). The microstrip antenna utilized the proximity-coupled method of feeding. Initially, the optimization process of the single patch antenna design involving modifying the microstrip line feed to yield a high gain (above 5 dBi) and low return loss (below -10 dB). A minimum of 10 MHz bandwidth is targeted at below 3 dB of Axial Ratio for the circularly polarized antenna. A planar array from the single patch is formed next. Consideration for the array design is the beam radiation pattern in the azimuth and elevation plane which is specified based on the electrical and mechanical constraints of the UAV CP-SAR system. This research will contribute in the field of radar for remote sensing technology. The potential application is for landcover, disaster monitoring, snow cover, and oceanography mapping.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2014

Ground-based polarimetric scatterometers have been effective tools to monitor the growth of crop with multi-polarization and frequencies and various incident angles. An important advantage of these systems that can be exploited is temporal observation of a specific crop target. Polarimetric backscatter data at L-, C- and X-bands were acquired every 10 minutes. We analyzed the relationships between L-, C- and X-band signatures, biophysical measurements over the whole corn growth period. The Vertical transmit and Vertical receive polarization (VV) backscattering coefficients for all bands were greater than those of the Horizontal transmit and Horizontal receive polarization (HH) until early-July, and then thereafter HH-polarization was greater than VV-polarization or Horizontal transmit and Vertical receive polarization (HV) until the harvesting stage (Day Of Year, DOY 240). The results of correlation analysis between the backscattering coefficients for all bands and corn growth data showed that L-band HH-polarization (L-HH) was the most suited for monitoring the fresh weight ($r=0.95^{***}$), dry weight ($r=0.95^{***}$), leaf area index ($r=0.86^{**}$), and vegetation water content ($r=0.93^{***}$). Retrieval equations were developed for estimating corn growth parameters using L-HH. The results indicated that L-HH could be used for estimating the vegetation biophysical parameters considered here with high accuracy. Those results can be useful in determining frequency and polarization of satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar stem and in designing a future ground-based microwave system for a long-term monitoring of corn.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.158-164
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• 1999

This paper investigated and evaluated the NASA's Shuttle Imaging Radar-C (SIR-C) multiple frequency SAR data for differential backscattering effects of microwave from the surface geological materials overlying the skarn type mineralization. Although an integrated approach in mineral exploration is more cost effective and is well in use, there are still many technical and scientific issues to be further investigated and researched. In this study we have reprocessed several sets of previously surveyed exploration data and experimented with fuzzy logic digital fusion of the preprocessed data with respect to chosen exploration targets. Among the numerous fuzzy logic operators, which are currently available for a data driven integrated exploration strategy, we used varying combinations of fuzzy MIN, fuzzy MAX, and fuzzy SUM operators along with Gamma operator for fusion of exploration data, including the contact metamorphic zone information. The final exploration target tested was a skarn type W-Mo-F mineralization in the study area. The fuzzy logic derived mineral potential anomaly almost exactly matched the differential backscattering anomalies on the C-band and L-band SIR_C data when overlaid on each other. Although this high degree of correlation between these two data sets is remarkable, the differential backscattering anomaly over the skarn type W-Mo-F mineralization in the study area requires further investigation.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.374-383
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• 2010

Microwave radar can penetrate cloud cover regardless of weather conditions and can be used day and night. Especially a ground-based polarimetric scatterometer has advantages of monitoring crop conditions continuously with full polarization and different frequencies. Kim et al. (2009) have measured backscattering coefficients of paddy rice using L-, C-, X-band scatterometer system with full polarization and various angles during the rice growth period and have revealed the necessity of near-continuous automatic measurement to eliminate the difficulties, inaccuracy and sparseness of data acquisitions arising from manual operation of the system. In this study, we constructed an X-band automatic scatterometer system, analyzed scattering characteristics of paddy rice from X-band scatterometer data and estimated rice growth parameter using backscattering coefficients in X-band. The system was installed inside a shelter in an experimental paddy field at the National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS) before rice transplanting. The scatterometer system consists of X-band antennas, HP8720D vector network analyzer, RF cables and personal computer that controls frequency, polarization and data storage. This system using automatically measures fully-polarimetric backscattering coefficients of rice crop every 10 minutes. The backscattering coefficients were calculated from the measured data at a fixed incidence angle of $45^{\circ}$ and with full polarization (HH, VV, HV, VH) by applying the radar equation and compared with rice growth data such as plant height, stem number, fresh dry weight and Leaf Area Index (LAI) that were collected at the same time of each rice growth parameter. We examined the temporal behaviour of the backscattering coefficients of the rice crop at X-band during rice growth period. The HH-, VV-polarization backscattering coefficients steadily increased toward panicle initiation stage, thereafter decreased and again increased in early-September. We analyzed the relationships between backscattering coefficients in X-band and plant parameters and predicted the rice growth parameters using backscattering coefficients. It was confirmed that X-band is sensitive to grain maturity at near harvesting season.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.621-626
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• 2002

A satellite scatterometer is a microwave radar sensor used to measure the backscattering at a sea surface. This instrument transmits radar pulses to the sea surface and measure the radar energy reflected back towards the source. Changes in wind velocity make sea surface roughness change and then affect on backscattered power. This gives us information of sea surface wind speed. Directions of wind vectors are acquired by multiple, collocated, and nearly simultaneous measurements. It should be noted that the scatterometer observes not the wind directly but the wind stress vector relative to the surface current. This suggests the possibility that the satellite scatterometer winds can include the effect of the surface current. This study shows the evidence that scatterometer measure surface wind stress, not surface winds and presents the velocity structure of oceanic warm and cold eddies.