Radar Backscattering of Rough Soil Surfaces From L-Band to Ku-Band With NMM3D

Backscattering from rough soil surface has important applications to the remote sensing of soil moisture and snow water equivalent (SWE). To extend simulations to Ku-band, we have performed full-wave simulations up to kh = 15. Results are simulated for various profiles and show that the scattering at C-, X-, and Ku-bands is influenced by both scales of centimeters roughness and millimeter roughness. Comparisons are made between constant ratios rough surface and constant ratios rough surfaces and limited correlation length rough surfaces. The results are illustrated for both VV and HH polarizations. Simulation results are in good agreement with X-band measurement data as a function of incidence angle. An illustration is used to show how the results can be used for theoretical models of rough-surface scattering in remote sensing of SWE.