Radiative transfer modelling of ERS SAR signatures for agricultural crop classification and monitoring

The authors report on the establishment of quantitative links between multi-temporal radar backscatter observations of temperate agricultural crops and the structural development of those crops. The authors have undertaken an experimental programme with the C-band ERS-2 satellite SAR and have utilised a physically-based radiative transfer model. They aim to underpin strategies for the operational use of existing SARs and to assist in preparations for the use of future sensors such as the ASAR on ESA's Envisat.