C-Band Radiometric Response to Rainfall Events in the Subtropical Chaco Forest

GRINGS FRANCISCO; DOUNA,V.; BARRAZA VERONICA; SALVIA, M.; KARSZENBAUM HAYDEE; GASPARRI N. IGNACIO; FERRAZOLI P.; RAHMOUNE R.

IEEE GEOSCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING LETTERS

IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC

Año: 2012 vol. 9 p. 209 - 213

1545-598X

In this letter, multitemporal signatures collected byAdvanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR-E) over thedry forest of Chaco, located in North Argentina, are analyzed. Theforest has a biomass of about 100 t/ha and a woody volume ofabout 120 m3/ha. A clear increase of polarization index at C-bandis observed after intense rain events in two different locations.Simulations of a discrete model attribute this effect to variations ofsoil moisture and predict an effect comparable with the measuredone. Results indicate that there is a potential to monitor soilmoisture variations below dry forests with moderate biomass, alsoin view of the forthcoming availability of L-band data.