The BOREAS Information System

RSS-16: Estimation of Hydrological Parameters in Boreal Forest Using SAR Data

P.I.(s): Sasan S. Saatchi--NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Co-I(s): Jacob van Zyl, Mahta Mogaddam -- NASA/JPL; Ted Engman -- NASA/GSFC

Objectives: To estimate the water content of the top layer of the forest canopy and the moisture of the forest floor and to map the snow and permafrost cover by using SAR imagery and possibly synergism between microwave and optical data. We propose to use AIRSAR, ERS-1, JERS-1, and AVIRIS data (SIR-c/X-SAR if available) in conjunction with classification techniques, forest modeling and retrieval algorithms to provide these parameters as quantitative inputs to hydrological models. In order to make the algorithms operational, we will validate the models used in SAR data analysis by working closely with other investigators for parameterizing the boreal forest surface cover and acquiring in situ measurements. In addition, we will also focus on the scaling problem to adjust the parameter estimation algorithms suitable for local and mesoscale hydrological modeling. We will participate in summer, fall and winter field campaigns to collect biometry data and characterizing the forest surface (snow depth, soil moisture, freeze and thaw in vegetation and soil, and understory).
During BOREAS, the Space Shuttle overflew the Southern Study Area and took SAR (Synthetic Apature Radar) images of the entire area twice, once in April 1994 and once in October 1994. The Shuttle SAR images are available from NASA JPL.

View the SAR Imaging Radar Web site at NASA JPL.

RSS-16 Data Sets