Evaluation of Radar Backscattering Models IEM, OH, and Dubois using L and C-Bands SAR Data over different vegetation canopy covers and soil depths

Abstract. Several algorithms have been proposed in the literature to invert radar measurements to estimate surface soil moisture. The objective of this paper is to compare the performance of the most common surface back scattering models including the theoretical integral equation model (IEM) of Fung et al. (1992), and the semi-empirical models of Oh et al. (1992, 1994, 2002 and2004) and Dubois et al. (1995). This analysis uses four AIRSAR data in L and C band together with in situ measurements (soil moisture and surface roughness) over bare soil and vegetation covers area and three different soil depths. The results show that Dubois model tend to over-estimate the radar response in both bands while IEM model and Oh model frequently over-estimate the radar response in L band but under-estimate them in C band. By evaluating of all models in different soil depths, the best results were obtained in 0–3 cm depths. For vegetation area poor correlation between models backscatter simulation and radar response was observed.