Correlation of the Sentinel 1 Radar Data with Ground-Based Measurements of the Soil Temperature and Moisture

Abstract

This study analyzes the correlation between the Sentinel 1 radar data in the C band and the soil temperature and moisture measured at seven ground-based stations in France and Germany for the period of 2014–2016. The results of ground-based measurements of the soil temperature and moisture are available on the International Soil Moisture Network website. It has been shown that there are both positive and negative correlations between the backscattering coefficient (BSC) and the soil temperature and moisture measured on the ground. According to our results, the correlation depends on the soil texture and surface roughness. For strongly correlated variables, the regression relationships of the BSC with the soil parameters have been obtained.