Polarimetric Radar Observations of Forest State for Determination of Ecosystem Processes

The objectives of this research are to test the hypotheses that ecologically significant forest state parameters may be estimated from SAR data. These include estimation of above ground biomass, plant water status, and near surface soil moisture under certain forest conditions. Test hypotheses in the northern hardwoods forest community, refine them if necessary, and establish techniques for retrieving this information from orbital SARs such as SIR-C/X-SAR. This report summarizes (1) recent progress, (2) significant results and (3) research plans concerning SIR-C/X-SAR research.