Synthetic Aperture Radar Remote Sensing for Geophysical and Biophysical Parameters Retrieval

Dear Colleagues,

The scientific community has widely used synthetic aperture radar (SAR) remote sensing for large-scale land use/land cover mapping and retrieval of bio- and geophysical parameters over the past few decades. Microwaves used in SAR remote sensing are sensitive to the structural and dielectric properties of the target objects. The active imaging nature of the SAR sensor enables it to receive information at any time, and the long wavelength of the microwave band of the electromagnetic spectrum enables it to provide information in any weather (even when the atmosphere is entirely cloud-covered). The development of polarimetric modeling approaches ensures accurate scattering information retrieval from different scatters within the resolution SAR cell. Interferometric SAR has shown the ability to have precise elevation at the level of a few meters and ground subsidence on the mm scale. The advantage of subsurface penetration and other unique capabilities of SAR data have been extensively used in solid earth, ecosystem, and cryosphere applications. Because of the increasing demand for SAR data, many space agencies have developed and launched advanced SAR sensors and provide tools and software for data processing for the convenience of students and researchers. Several state-of-the-art SAR sensors are planned for future missions, taking into account user and scientific objectives as well as the data requirements of a variety of thematic applications. The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission is unique and the first dual-frequency spaceborne mission acquiring data from L-band (24-cm) as well as S-band (12-cm) polarimetric SAR for Earth observation that will be launched in 2024. Similarly, to meet the demand for long-wavelength SAR data with a high canopy penetration capability, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) P-band Biomass mission is planned to be dedicated to the biomass of tropical forests. These SAR missions will complement and supplement many optical remote sensing data now acquired by hundreds of satellites in hyperspectral, hyperspatial, and advanced multispectral modes. As new advanced sensors are being developed that can meet the demands of thematic applications along with many other types of information, new algorithms are also being developed by the scientific community to meet this need. These combinations of sensors, tools, and techniques offer many new opportunities to advance planet science from satellite remote sensing.

This Special Issue invites the submission of manuscripts that contribute to SAR, PolSAR, and InSAR model development for thematic solid earth, ecosystem, and cryosphere applications for the retrieval of geophysical and biophysical parameters using advanced airborne and spaceborne SAR remote sensing techniques, and that make a significant contribution to data processing. Papers that use SAR data in conjunction with optical remote sensing data from hyperspectral, hyperspatial, and advanced multispectral remote sensing to demonstrate advances in planet science are also welcome.

The focus of this Special Issue will be on advanced polarimetric and interferometric SAR remote sensing techniques, data processing, and potential thematic applications. However, papers that use SAR data along with optical remote sensing are also welcome, especially when real advances in planet science through utilizing data from multiple sensor platforms are demonstrated. A tentative list of topics on which manuscripts can be submitted is as follows:

• Retrieval of forest parameters using SAR remote sensing;
• Mapping and monitoring of agricultural crops;
• Soil moisture retrieval by implementing modeling approaches on SAR data;
• Scattering-based characterization of manmade and natural features using polarimetric decomposition models;
• Machine learning and deep learning models for SAR backscatter-based classification of land use and land cover;
• Monitoring of volcanic eruptions and lava flow using PolSAR and InSAR;
• Mapping and monitoring of cultural and natural world heritage sites using spaceborne SAR data;
• Retrieval of geo-/biophysical parameters and classification using SAR data in combination with other remote sensing data;
• Snow parameter retrieval and mapping and monitoring of glacier surfaces using SAR data;
• Utilization of SAR data for geological applications;
• Land subsidence mapping and monitoring using temporal InSAR data;
• Polarimetric modeling for geological, geomorphological, and structural parameters of the lunar surface.

Dr. Shashi Kumar
Dr. Rahul Raj
Dr. Gaurav Kumar
Dr. Anil Kumar
Dr. Unmesh Khati
Dr. Prasad S. Thenkabail
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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