Polarimetric SAR calibration experiment using active radar calibrators

Active radar calibrators are used to derive both the amplitude and phase characteristics of a multichannel polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) from the complex image data. Results are presented from an experiment carried out using the NASA/JPL DC-8 aircraft SAR over a calibration site at Goldstone, California. As part of the experiment, polarimetric active radar calibrators (PARCs) with adjustable polarization signatures were deployed. Experimental results demonstrate that the PARCs can be used to calibrate polarimetric SAR images successfully. Restrictions on the application of the PARC calibration procedure are discussed.<
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