The effect of rain and flooding events on AMSR-E signatures of La Plata Basin, Argentina

FERRAZZOLI, PAOLO; RAHMOUNE, RASHID; MOCCIA, FERNANDO; GRINGS, FRANCISCO MATIAS; SALVIA, MARÍA MERCEDES; BARBER, MATÍAS; KARSZENBAUM HAYDEE; SOLDANO, ALVARO; GONIADZKI, D; PARMUCHI, GABRIELA; MONTENEGRO, CELINA; KANDUS, PATRICIA; BORRO, MARTA

IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing

Año: 2009

1939-1404

The objective of this paper is to describe and explain the effects on selected AMSR-E channels of two strong events, i.e. a rainstorm and a flooding, occurred in the Argentine section of La Plata basin. More specifically, the rainstorm took place within the Chaco region, which is covered by a continuous, although not very dense, forest. The flooding affected the terminal part of Paraná iver. The study is based on monitoring the temporal trends of the polarization index at C band, and a frequency index defined using simultaneous measurements at C and Ka band. In the forest, the rainstorm produces an effect on C band channels which is well evident, although moderate. Simulations based on a discrete electromagnetic model predict results which are comparable with measured ones. In the Paraná river, measurements of water level are available. Variations of polarization and frequency index are observed in correspondence with variations of water level in four different stations. However, the amount of the effect and the correlation between variables are dependent on the properties of the areas surrounding the stations.