Assessment of the effects of winter wheat scattering on SAR backscatter for soil moisture estimation based on a radiative transfer model

This study evaluated the potential of the Single Scattering Radiative Transfer (SSRT) model coupled with the Oh model to retrieve surface soil moisture (SSM) in two drip-irrigated wheat fields in the Tensift al Haouz plain, over three growing seasons (2016–2019). This research focuses on evaluating...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mounir Abassi, Jamal Ezzahar, El M’kaddem Kheddioui, Basma Boujoudi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:European Journal of Remote Sensing
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22797254.2024.2394780
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Summary:This study evaluated the potential of the Single Scattering Radiative Transfer (SSRT) model coupled with the Oh model to retrieve surface soil moisture (SSM) in two drip-irrigated wheat fields in the Tensift al Haouz plain, over three growing seasons (2016–2019). This research focuses on evaluating isotropic scattering and Rayleigh scattering by calibrating the coupled SSRT_Oh model, using data gathered on the calibrated field. The data includes measured SSM at 5 cm depth, Leaf Area Index (LAI) and vegetation height (H). The aim is to fit the extinction coefficient through comparing simulated and Sentinel-1 backscatter, at VV and VH polarizations. The validated field data were used to retrieve SSM. Calibration revealed the best retrieval for Rayleigh scattering, at VV polarization, with an RMSE of 1.25 dB, a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.86, and a bias of 0.1 dB, whereas, the isotropic approach yielded r, RMSE and bias values of 0.83, 1.37 dB and −0.01 dB, respectively. Rayleigh’s performance remained unchanged throughout the inversion process for SSM retrieval, at VV polarization, with r of 0.87 against 0.86 for isotropic scattering. To enhance our findings, the introduction of dynamic extinction parameter and exclusive use of Sentinel-1 data to describe vegetation could improve SSM retrieval.
ISSN:2279-7254