Multi-spectral analysis of the Amazon Basin using SeaWinds, ERS, Seasat scatterometers, TRMM-PR and SSM/I
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2002
Publication Title
2002 IEEE International Geoscience And Remote Sensing Symposium
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Volume
3
First page number:
1780
Last page number:
1782
Abstract
The Amazon Basin represents a vast geographical zone containing large proportion of global biomass. We use the SeaWinds scatterometer (QSCAT), ERS-1/-2 scatterometer (ESCAT), NASA scatterometer (NSCAT) Seasat scatterometer (SASS), Tropical Rain Measuring Mission Precipitation Radar (TRMM-PR) and Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) data to study the multi-spectral microwave response of Amazon vegetation. Incidence angle signatures of combined backscatter measurements (σº) from the scatterometers and precipitation radar indicate a good inter-calibration of the sensors. The multi-frequency signatures of both σº and radiometric temperature measurements (T(b)) from SSM/I are also studied. Temporal variability of the Amazon basin is studied using C-band ERS data and a Ku-band time series formed by SASS, NSCAT and QSCAT data. ESCAT data reveals a possible mismatch in the calibration of scatterometers between ERS-1 and ERS-2. Although the central Amazon forest represents an area of very stable radar backscatter measurements, portions of the southern region exhibit backscatter changes over the past two decades.
Keywords
Amazon basin; ERS-1/-2 scatterometer (ESCAT); NASA scatterometer (NSCAT); Remote sensing; Seasat scatterometer (SASS); SeaWinds scatterometer (QSCAT); Tropical Rain Measuring Mission Precipitation Radar (TRMM-PR) and Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I); Vegetation
Disciplines
Environmental Monitoring | Geographic Information Sciences | Plant Sciences
Language
English
Repository Citation
Stephen, H.,
Long, D. G.
(2002).
Multi-spectral analysis of the Amazon Basin using SeaWinds, ERS, Seasat scatterometers, TRMM-PR and SSM/I.
2002 IEEE International Geoscience And Remote Sensing Symposium, 3
1780-1782.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/IGARSS.2002.1026252
Comments
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