Effect of the Double-Bounce Contribution in PolInSAR-Based Height Estimates of Rice Crops Using TanDEM-X Bistatic Data

Abstract

In bistatic acquisitions the presence of a double-bounce contribution at the ground affects the interferometric coherence with a decorrelation factor which is usually overlooked in studies employing polarimetric SAR interferometry. The standard acquisition mode of TanDEM-X is bistatic, so the influence of this contribution in the estimation of scene parameters (ground topography and vegetation height) is studied here. The analysis is carried out both with simulations and real data acquired over rice fields during the science phase of TanDEM-X. Results show that the error in height and topography is small when incidence angle is below 30 degrees, but may become noticeable for shallower incidences.