Tutorial: Radar Polarimetry

This tutorial will introduce the reader to the principles, technology and practical applications of radar polarimetry. For a simpler and much shorter approach to this topic, the reader is invited to read the "Radar Polarimetry" chapter of the "Fundamentals of Remote Sensing" tutorial, also on this Web site.

Permission for use

This educational material within these tutorials is provided as is and may be copied in any form and used for non-commercial purposes provided that the content of the original material is not altered and it is clearly indicated that the Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation (formerly Canada Centre for Remote Sensing), Natural Resources Canada is the originator of this material.

Table of contents

• Acknowledgements

• Applications of SAR polarimetry
  • Agriculture applications
  • Coastal zone applications
  • Forestry applications
  • Hydrology applications
  • Oceans applications
  • Sea ice applications

• Basics of SAR polarimetry

• Classification algorithms

• Polarimetric image interpretation

• Polarimetric interferometry

• Polarimetric data expressed in the power domain

• Polarimetric parameters

• Polarization signatures

• Polarization synthesis

• References

• User guide