Stochastically based wet snow mapping with SAR DATA

This paper proposes the new method for wet snow mapping using SAR data. It represents a modified version of the existing Nagler's mapping method, based on winter/summer image comparison, which is considered as the classic one. Instead of the existing unique threshold, a variable threshold matrix (function of the local incidence angle for each pixel) is proposed, based on dry and wet snow backscattering simulation results. The new membership decision method (with the respect to the dry/snow classes) is introduced. It considers the intensity ratio as a stochastical process: the probability that “the intensity ratio is smaller than the corresponding dry/wet snow determined threshold” is larger than the desired confidence level.