2015–2016 Seasonal Variations of Backscattering from Natural Coverage in the Moscow Region Based on Radar Data from the Sentinel 1A Satellite

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the time series of the coefficient of backscattering from forest cover and unused land in the Moscow region based on 29 C-band sessions of the Sentinel 1A satellite over a one-year period from March 10, 2015 to March 4, 2016. The data were interpreted using the MIMICS model of the change in the permittivity of the elements of the forest cover and the model of the change in the permittivity of the soil. The seasonal features of the change in backscattering from the forest using two polarizations of VV and VH are shown for the Losinyi Ostrov forest. A strong positive correlation was found between values ​​of the backscattering coefficient of the forest and values of air temperature. Using the MIMICS model, we were also able to relate the annual changes in the backscattering coefficient of the forest to changes in the permittivity of the trees dependent on temperature. The soil moisture content of unused land in the vicinity of Fryazino, Moscow Region was estimated based on the radar data for 2015–2016. Data on soil moisture can be extracted using a single equation of Dubois et al., 1995 for consistent polarization and regression of Rao et al., 2003 under a number of conditions. The time series of the values ​​of the equivalent water layer for the studied field is shown for the snow period.