ERS-1 SAR BACKSCATTERING COEFFICIENTS FROM BARE FIELDS WITH DIFFERENT TILLAGE ROW DIRECTIONS

This Letter's objective is to investigate whether the periodic structuring of bare agricultural fields, brought about by tillage causes differences in backscattering coefficients (sigma(d)egrees) in three ERS-1 SAR images. sigma(d)egrees were derived for bare fields with different row directions and analysed using analysis of variance and linear regression. Results indicate significant differences in sigma(d)egrees for fields tilled parallel to and perpendicular to the look direction. Linear relationships between row direction and sigma(d)egrees are weak. The ERS-1 SAR appears sensitive to differences in the tillage row direction of bare fields but factors influencing this sensitivity must be analysed before definite conclusions are drawn.