Influence of SAR wavelength and polarization on geological interpretation of arid terrains

Polarimetric SAR data in C-, L-, and P-band were analyzed for an arid area in central Nevada. Differentiations in alluvial fans provenance can only be mapped with C-band like-polarized data because the size fragments of the alluvium. The location of the associated drainage channels are however best identified with L-band data. The P-band data does not show as much contrast between the channels and the surrounding alluvium, perhaps because of decreased sensitivity. However, the P-band data are best suited to make lithological inferences in the more vegetated mesas overlooking the study area.