Preliminary observational study on microwave backscattering characteristics of snow using the PWRI microwave scatterometer

Abstract

The authors made a field experiment of microwave observations (C-band) of natural-layered snow in a coastal area near to the Japan Sea, using the PWRI multi-polarization scatterometer. Any significant relationship between backscattering coefficient and snow water equivalent/moisture content could not be confirmed. To elicit volume scattering in snow, the authors applied the depolarization ratio and found the ratio had a general tendency to increase with snow water equivalent for observations made in 1992, which suggested the possibility of the utilization of multi-polarization data to observe snowcover.<>