Cloude's target decomposition theorems applied to EMISAR data acquired during EMAC'95 snow campaign

In this study the possibilities of using polarimetric L- and C-band microwave SAR data in snow mapping are investigated. Covariance matrix eigenvalue based decomposition theory, proposed by Cloude (1992) was applied to polarimetric EMISAR data. SAR images and ground truth data were collected during the European Multisensor Airborne Campaign (EMAC'95) in Northern Finland over boreal forest areas. The influence of snow depth and forest stem volume to SAR signal was investigated. L-band reacts strongly to forest stem volume while snow conditions influence backscattering in C-band.