Polarimetric radar covariance matrix algorithms and applications to partially polarized waves

Characterization of complex or non-stationary targets, which backscatter partially polarized waves is considered first. The possibility of constructing the covariance matrix from coherency matrix measurements is shown and an algorithm to obtain optimum polarizations and other parameters of interest is briefly described. Using the model described in Hendry et al. (1987) for meteorological targets the covariance matrix for this class of scatterers is built. Optimum polarizations are obtained and symmetry properties are examined.