Development and field testing of a complex of two dual-frequency, polarimetric, combined scatterometric-radiometric systems.
Within the framework of this Project it is planned:
- To develop and to manufacture a complex of two (L&X and C&Ku) dual-frequency, polarimetric, spatio-temporally combined, short pulse, scatterometric-radiometric systems for short distance remote sensing application (the minimum operational range for scatterometers is 4m), the first one at L (~1.4GHz) and X (~9.6GHz ) band of frequencies and the second one at C (5.6GHz) and Ku (13.6GHz) band of frequencies;
- To perform spatio-temporally collocated, multi-frequency (four frequencies), multi-polarization, measurements of snow, ground ice, bare and vegetated soils reflection and emission over a wide range of incidence angles;
- To perform spatio-temporally collocated multi-frequency, multi-polarization measurements of wave-covered water surface and water ice layer’s reflection and emission over a wide range of incidence angles;
- To validate and to improve existed electromagnetic scattering and emission transfer models of wave-covered water surface, snow, water and ground ice layers, bare and vegetated soils;
- To study the feasibility and to develop new methods and algorithms for soil (bare and vegetated) and snow moisture retrieval from combining data of multi-frequency, multi-polarization, scatterometric-radiometric observations;
- To study the feasibility and to develop new methods and algorithms for near sea surface wind speed and direction, sea state, near surface air and water temperatures unambiguous retrieval from combining data of multi-frequency, multi-polarization, scatterometric-radiometric observations;
- To develop structure of airborne complex of two dual-frequency, multi-polarization, combined scatterometric-radiometric system for the Earth (sea and land) surface multi-frequency and multi-polarization remote sensing;
For achievement of the project objectives it is planned to develop a complex of two (L&X and C&Ku) dual-frequency, polarimetric, spatio-temporally combined, short pulse, scatterometric-radiometric systems, for short distance remote sensing application of their scatterometers. The operational range of the system’s scatterometers will vary from 4m up to 150m. It is planned as well to perform a series of multi-frequency (at least at four frequencies), multi-polarization, spatio-temporally combined active-passive measurements of wave-covered and ice covered experimental pool water surface, bare and vegetated soils and land snow cover scattering and emission under control-test laboratory and under quasi-field conditions over a wide range of incidence angles. For these experiments an experimental site with its measuring platforms (stationary and mobile) and a small, local weather station will be used, developed, manufactured and built by ECOSERV ROC under the framework of the ISTC Projects A-872 and A-1524. Four-frequency active-passive measurements will be conducted for various angles of incidence, polarizations, wind and wave, snow and water ice, rain, soil and vegetation conditions, including frosted and melted snow and water conditions, frosted and melted soils, soils before and after the tillage, etc. A complete set of ground truth data, including the moisture content, snowfall depth, ice thickness, snow water content, soil, ice, water and air temperatures, water salinity, wind speed and direction, rainfall and snowfall parameters will also be collocated.
The proposed research project corresponds to the applied research type of technology development and can be considered as a realizable task in all technical respects. It is partially based on the results of preliminary researches and works carried out in the framework of the ISTC Projects A-872 and A-1524, as well as of the projects NFSAT PH057-02 / CRDF 12012, CRDF FSMP ARG2-5041-YE-04, CRDF NSMP ARG2-579-YE-04 and CRDF GAP ARG2-1685-YE-07 by members of Armenian Research Team. Multi-year experience of Armenian Research Team members in development and manufacture of combined scatterometric-radiometric systems, available measuring equipment, in-situ control-test and calibration facilities of ECOSERV ROC and GTU will provide a successful implementation of the goals of the project related to a development of a unique technology (device), methods and criteria for real time retrieval of vegetation parameters, snow and soil moisture, ice thickness and temperature, near surface wind and wave fields parameters, water and air temperatures, forthcoming precipitation quantity, related to a development more precise models describing microwave emission and scattering from wave-covered and ice covered water surface, bare soil, vegetation and snow covers.
The main research results and achievements expected are:
- A unique technology as a complex of two dual-frequency (L&X and C&Ku-band), polarimetric, spatio-temporally combined, short pulse, scatterometric-radiometric systems for short distance remote sensing application.
- Methodology for combining data from land and water surface scatterometric-radiometric observations.
- Method development for snow and soil moistures unambiguous retrieval.
- Method development for near sea surface wind speed and direction, sea state, water and near surface air temperatures unambiguous retrieval
- Classification possibilities of sea and land surfaces pollution.
- Improvement of precision of retrieval of sea surface wave and near surface wind field parameters, snow, ice, soil and soil vegetation parameters.
- Validation and improvement of existing models of wave-covered and ice-covered water surfaces, soil, snow, ground ice, and vegetation microwave scattering and emission.
- Development of multi-frequency, multi-polarization, combined scatterometric-radiometric system for airborne measurements and precise retrievals of snow, soil and soil vegetation, sea ice, sea surface wind and wave fields parameters in real time scale.
