FRAPPART, Frédéric; FATRAS, C.; MOUGIN, Éric; MARIEU, Vincent; DIEPKILÉ, A.T.; BLAREL, F.; BORDERIES, P.

doi:10.1016/j.pce.2015.05.001

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FRAPPART, Frédéric
Géosciences Environnement Toulouse [GET]
Laboratoire d'études en Géophysique et océanographie spatiales [LEGOS]

FATRAS, C.
Géosciences Environnement Toulouse [GET]
ONERA - The French Aerospace Lab [Toulouse]

MOUGIN, Éric
Géosciences Environnement Toulouse [GET]

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Ce document a été publié dans

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth. Parts A/B/C. 2015, vol. 83-84, p. 96-110

Résumé en anglais

This study presents a comprehensive comparison of radar altimetry signatures at Ka-, Ku-, C-, and S-bands using SARAL, ENVISAT and Jason-2 data over the major bioclimatic zones, soil and vegetation types encountered in West-Africa, with an emphasis on the new information at Ka-band provided by the recently launched SARAL–Altika mission. Spatio-temporal variations of the radar altimetry responses were related to changes in surface roughness, land cover and soil wetness. Analysis of time series of backscattering coefficients along the West African bioclimatic gradient shows that radar echoes at nadir incidence are well correlated to soil moisture in semi-arid savannah environments. Radar altimeters are able to detect the presence of water even under a dense canopy cover at all frequencies. But only measurements at Ka-band are able to penetrate underneath the canopy of non-inundated tropical evergreen forests.< Réduire

Mots clés en anglais

RADAR ALTIMETRY

SURFACE PROPERTIES

WEST AFRICA

BACKSCATTERING