• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.255-261
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• 2002

Strong and coherent radar backscattering signals are observed over oyster sea farms that consist of artificial structures installed on the bottom. We successfully obtained 21 coherent interferograms from 11 JERS-1 SAR data sets even though orbital baselines (up to 2 km) or temporal baselines (up to 1 year) were relatively large. The coherent phases preserved in the sea farms are probably formed by double bouncing from sea surface and the sea farming structures, and consequently they are correlated with tide height (or instantaneous sea level). Phase unwrapping is required to restore the absolute sea level. We show that radar backscattering intensity is roughly correlated with the sea surface height, and utilize the fact to determine the wrapping counts. While the SAR image intensity gives a rough range of absolute sea level, the interferometric phases provide the detailed relative height variations within a limit of $2{\pi}$ (or 15.3 cm) with respect to the sea level at the moment of the master data acquisition. A combined estimation results in an instantaneous sea level. The radar measurements were verified using tide gauge records, and the results yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.96 with an r.m.s. error of 6.0 cm. The results demonstrate that radar interferometry is a promising approach to sea level measurement in the near coastal regions.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.567-577
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• 2016

SqueeSAR is a new technique to combine Persistent Scatterer (PS) and Distributed Scatterer (DS) for deformation monitoring. Although many PSs are available in urban areas, SqueeSAR analysis can be beneficial to increase the PS density in not only natural targets but also smooth surfaces in urban environment. The height of each targets is generally required to remove topographic phase in interferometric SAR processing. The result of PSInSAR analysis to use PS only is not affected by DEM resolution because the height error of initial input DEM at each PSs is precisely compensated in PS processing chain. On the contrary, SqueeSAR can be affected by DEM resolution and precision since it includes spatial average filtering for DS targets to increase a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In this study we observe the effect of DEM resolution on deformation measurement by PSInSAR and SqueeSAR. With ALOS-1 PALSAR L-band data, acquired over Daejeon city, Korea, two different DEM data are used in InSAR processing for comparison: 1 m LIDAR DEM and SRTM 1-arc (~30 m) DEM. As expected the results of PSInSAR analysis show almost same results independently of the kind of DEM, while the results of SqueeSAR analysis show the improvement in quality of the time-series in case of 1-m LIDAR DSM. The density of InSAR measurement points was also improved about five times more than the PSInSAR analysis.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.425-428
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• 1999

The radar interferogram represents phase differences between the two synthetic aperture radar observations acquired in slightly different angle. The success of the radar interferometric application largely depends on the quality of the interferogram generated from two or more synthetic aperture radar data sets. We propose here to apply the wavenumber correlation analysis to the in-phase and quadrature phase of the radar interferogram. The wavenumber correlation analysis is to resolve the highly correlated components from the low correlation components by estimating correlation coefficients for each wavenumber component. Through this approach, one can easily distinguish the signal components from the noise components in the wavenumber domain. Therefore, the wavenumber correlation analysis of the radar interferogram can be utilized to design post filter and to estimate the quality of interferogram. We have tested the wavenumber correlation analysis using a Radarsat SAR data pair to demonstrated the effectiveness of

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.3-17
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• 2004

Space-borne Earth observation technique is one of the most cost effective and rapidly advancing Earth science research tools today and the potential field and micro-wave radar applications have been leading the discipline. The traditional optical imaging systems including the well known Landsat, NOAA - AVHRR, SPOT, and IKONOS have steadily improved spatial imaging resolution but increasing cloud covers have the major deterrent. The new Earth observation satellites ENVISAT (launched on March 1 2002, specifically for Earth environment observation), ALOS (planned for launching in 2004 - 2005 period and ALOS stands for Advanced Land Observation Satellite), and RADARSAT-II (planned for launching in 2005) all have synthetic aperture radar (SAR) onboard, which all have partial or fully polarimetric imaging capabilities. These new types of polarimetric imaging radars with repeat orbit interferometric capabilities are opening up completely new possibilities in Earth system science research, in addition to the radar altimeter and scatterometer. The main advantage of a SAR system is the all weather imaging capability without Sun light and the newly developed interferometric capabilities, utilizing the phase information in SAR data further extends the observation capabilities of directional surface covers and neotectonic surface displacements. In addition, if one can utilize the newly available multiple frequency polarimetric information, the new generation of space-borne SAR systems is the future research tool for Earth observation and global environmental change monitoring. The potential field strength decreases as a function of the inverse square of the distance between the source and the observation point and geophysicists have traditionally been reluctant to make the potential field observation from any space-borne platforms. However, there have recently been a number of potential field missions such as ASTRID-2, Orsted, CHAMP, GRACE, GOCE. Of course these satellite sensors are most effective for low spatial resolution applications. For similar objects, AMPERE and NPOESS are being planned by the United States and France. The Earth science disciplines which utilize space-borne platforms most are the astronomy and atmospheric science. However in this talk we will focus our discussion on the solid Earth and physical oceanographic applications. The geodynamic applications actively being investigated from various space-borne platforms geological mapping, earthquake and volcano .elated tectonic deformation, generation of p.ecise digital elevation model (DEM), development of multi-temporal differential cross-track SAR interferometry, sea surface wind measurement, tidal flat geomorphology, sea surface wave dynamics, internal waves and high latitude cryogenics including sea ice problems.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.303-316
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• 2005

Strong radar returns were observed in oyster sea farms, and coherent interferometric pairs were successfully constructed. Tide height in coastal area is possible to be measured by using interferometric phase and intensity of SAR data. This SAR application technique for measuring the tide height in the near coastal zone can be further improved when applied to double bounce dominant areas. In this paper, we investigate the characteristics of polarimetric signature in the oyster farm structures. Laboratory experiments were carried out using Ku-band according to the target scale. Radar returns from vertical poles are stronger than those from horizontal Pole by 10.5 dB. Single bounce components were as strong as double bounce components and more sensitive to antenna look direction. Double bounce components show quasi-linear relation with the height of vertical poles, which implies double bounce is more useful to determine water level than total power. A L-band NASA/IPL airborne SAR (AIRSAR) image was classified into single-, double-bounce, and volume scattering components. It is observed that oyster farms are not always characterized by double bounced scattering. Double bounce is a main scattering mechanism in oyster farms standing above seawater, while single bounce is stronger than double bounce when bottom tidal flats are exposed to air. Ratios of the normalized single to double bounce components in the former and latter cases were 0.46 and 5.62, respectively. It is necessary to use double bounce dominant sea farms for tide height measurement by DInSAR technique.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2011

In this paper, we analyzed the phase change of 5-triangular trihedral comer reflectors by using X-band Ground-Based Synthetic Aperture Radar (GB-SAR) system. Each reflector was set as a stationary target at a different distance from the system. We obtained total 123 full-polarization images during 40 hours continuously at 20 minute interval. Results of SAR interferometric analysis showed phase changes of maximum 2 radians and followed similar pattern with atmospheric data. Through a GB-SAR phase formula that includes refractive index in the air, we performed regression analysis for refractive index as a function of atmospheric humidity, temperature and pressure. As a result, refractive index of air in X-band showed relatively high coefficient of determination with humidity and temperature (0.72 and 0.76 on average, respectively) but not so with pressure (0.34). The refractive index of air in X -band changed by 3.14\;{\times}\;10^{-5}$ during the measuring time with a humidity range of 50% ~ 90% and a temperature range of $-1^{\circ}C$ ~ $9^{\circ}C$. We expect that a total expression of refractive index of air including humidity, temperature and pressure can be calculated when more extensive data would be collected at various atmospheric conditions.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.501-512
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• 2015

Landfast sea ice (LFI) in Terra Nova Bay, East Antarctica where the Jangbogo Antarctic Research Station is located, has significant influences on marine ecosystem and the sailing of an icebreaker. Therefore, it is essential to analyze the spatio-temporal variation of the LFI in Terra Nova Bay. In this study, we chose interferometric pairs with the temporal baseline from 1 to 9 days out of a total of 62 COSMO-SkyMed synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images over Terra Nova Bay obtained from December 2010 to January 2012, and then constructed the coherence image of each pair. The LFI showed coherence values higher than 0.3 even in the interferometric SAR (InSAR) pairs of up to 9-days of temporal baseline. This was because the LFI was fixed at coastline and thus showed low temporal phase decorrelation. Based on the characteristics of the coherence on LFI, We defined the areas of LFI that show spatially homogeneous coherence values higher than 0.5. Pack ice (PI) and open water showed low coherence values due to large temporal phase decorreation caused by current and wind. Distinguishing PI from open water in the coherence images was difficult due to their similarly low coherence values. PI was identified in SAR amplitude images by investigating cracks on the ice. The extents of the LFI and PI were estimated from the coherence and SAR amplitude images and their temporal variations were analyzed. The extent of the LFI increased from March to July (maximum extent of $170.7km^2$) and decreased from October. The extent of the PI increased from February to May and decreased from May to July when the LFI increases dramatically. The extent of the LFI and air temperature showed an inverse correlation with a time lag of about 2 months, i.e., the extent of the LFI decreases after 2 months of the increase in the air temperature. Meanwhile the correlation between wind speed and the extent of the LFI was very low. This represents that the extent of LFI in Terra Nova Bay are influenced more by the air temperature than wind speed.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.582-585
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• 2004

Oyster fanning structures in tidal flats are well detected by SAR system. Each frame of these artificial structures is composed of two vertical and one horizontal wooden pole. We investigate characteristics of polarimetric features in the target structures. In this paper, the results of AIRSAR L-band POLSAR data and experiments in laboratory are discussed. The ratio of single bounce to double bounce scattering depends of vertical pole height, direction of horizontal pole to radar look direction, and incidence angle as well as sea surface condition. We have conducted laboratory experiments. According to target scale, Ku-band and targets downsized by scale of 10 are used. The results of the experiments are summarized as: i) total power of the backscattering is more affected by vertical poles than a horizontal pole; ii) and backscattering from a horizontal pole is sensitive to the relative radar look direction to target array. We conclude that water level can be effectively measured by using interferometric phase and backscattering intensity if vertical poles in the water are observed by L-band HH- or VV-polarization. Measurement of tide height can be further improved if double bounced components are separated from fully polarized SAR data.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.538-541
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• 2005

Tidal flats develop along the south coast ofthe Korean peninsula. These areas are famous for sea farming. Specially, strong and coherent radar backscattering signals are observed over oyster sea farms that consist of artificial structures. Tide height in oyster farm is possible to measure by using interferometric phase and intensity of SAR data. It is assumed that the radar signals from oyster farm could be considered as double-bouncing returns by vertical and horizontal bars. But, detailed backscattering mechanism and polarimetric characteristics in oyster farm had not been well studied. We could not demonstrate whether the assumption is correct or not and exactly understand what the properties of back scattering were in oyster farm without full polarimetric data. The results of AIRSAR L-band POLSAR data, experiments in laboratory and JERS-l images are discussed. We carried out an experiment simulating a target structure using vector network analyser (Y.N.A.) in an anechoic chamber at Niigata University. Radar returns from vertical poles are stronger than those from horizontal poles by 10.5 dB. Single bounce components were as strong as double bounce components and more sensitive to antenna look direction. Double bounce components show quasi-linear relation with height of vertical poles. As black absorber replaced AI-plate in bottom surface, double bounce in vertical pole decreased. It is observed that not all oyster farms are characterized by double bounced scattering in AIRSAR data. The image intensity of the double bounce dominant oyster farm was investigated with respect to that of oyster farm dominated by single bounce in JERS-l SAR data. The image intensity model results in a correlation coefficient (R2 ) of 0.78 in double bounce dominant area while that of 0.54 in single bouncing dominant area. This shows that double bounce dominant area should be selected for water height measurement using In8AR technique.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.121-128
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• 2012

High resolution intertidal DEM is a basic material for science research like sedimentation/erosion by ocean current, and is invaluable in a monitoring of environmental changes and practical management of coastal wetland. Since the intertidal zone changes rapidly by the inflow of fluvial debris and tide condition, remote sensing is an effective tool for observing large areas in short time. Although radar interferometry is one of the well-known techniques for generating high resolution DEM, conventional repeat-pass interferometry has difficulty on acquiring enough coherence over tidal flat due to the limited exposure time and the rapid changes in surface condition. In order to overcome these constraints, we tested the feasibility of radar interferometry using Cosmo-SkyMed tandem-like one-day data and ERS-ENVISAT cross tandem data with very short revisit period compared to the conventional repeat pass data. Small temporal baseline combined with long perpendicular baseline allowed high coherence over most of the exposed tidal flat surface in both observations. However the interferometric phases acquired from Cosmo-SkyMed data suffer from atmospheric delay and changes in soil moisture contents. The ERS-ENVISAT pair, on the other hand, provides nice phase which agree well with the real topography, because the atmospheric effect in 30-minute gap is almost same to both images so that they are cancelled out in the interferometric process. Thus, the cross interferometry with very small temporal baseline and large perpendicular baseline is one of the most reliable solutions for the intertidal DEM construction which requires very accurate mapping of the elevation.