Synthetic aperture radar polarised backscattering behaviour in partially inundated agricultural fields

Abstract

A methodology for classifying rainfed paddy fields based on their hydrological conditions is lacking. This study analysed the behaviour of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) backscatter coefficients at each polarisation and cross-polarisation ratio index in a rainfed rice paddy field with a partially waterlogged surface. The SAR polarisations used were the VH and VV of the C-band SAR Sentinel-1 and the HV and HH of the L-band SAR Palsar-2. The relationship between backscatter coefficient and terrains including topographic categories and local relative elevation, which affect waterlogging conditions in rainfed paddy fields, were evaluated. The VV of C-band, and HH and HV of L-band showed different patterns in the time series variation according to the topographic categories. We observed that the combination of L-band HH and HV could be used to assess waterlogging conditions because they differ depending on variations in local elevation. The study results suggest that future studies can evaluate the microtopography and associated local hydrological environment using the combination of L-band HH and HV backscatter coefficient.