Vertical Analysis of Windblown Forest Short-term Decorrelation for SAR Tomography: New Results of the Pisascat Experiment

Abstract:
In the framework of developments of 3D forest SAR Tomography (Tomo-SAR), the issue of extensive and detailed characterizations of temporal decorrelation phenomena has emerged, especially for the future spaceborne operations. In this work, a methodology for new 4D Differential Tomography analyses exploiting a very fast acquisition ground-based miniradar is reported. Moreover, recent real data results are presented, developing investigation of both height- and time-varying characteristics of the short-term (fractions of second scale) decorrelation processes of the complex moving volumetric scatterers of windblown forests, which have not been covered by ESA campaigns. This unprecedented characterization concept and the new findings can be useful for current Tomo-SAR/Pol-InSAR analyses, and most importantly, for development of advanced spaceborne Tomo-SAR mission concepts and programs based on formation-flying satellites configurations of SAOCOM-CS-like kind, including LuTan-1.