• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.45.1-45.1
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• 2021

The polarization degree as a function of phase angle (the Sun-target-observer's angle), so-called the polarimetric phase curves (PPC), have provided priceless information on asteroids' albedos since B. Lyot (1929). Succeeding experimental works in 1970s have confirmed the Umow law: There is a universal and strong correlation between the albedo and the PPC slope (slope of the tangential line at the zero of the PPC at phase angle ~ 20 degrees). Experiments in 1990s (ref [1]), on the other hand, have demonstrated that the negative branch of PPC is dependent on the size parameter (X ~ π * particle-size / wavelength), especially when X <~5. The change in particle size changed the minimum polarization degree, location of the minimum, and the width of the negative branch (called the inversion angle). From polarimetry[2] and spectroscopy[3], large asteroids are expected to be covered with fine (<~ 10 ㎛ size) particles due to the gravity. The size parameters are X ~ 30 at the optical wavelength (λ ~ 0.5 ㎛) and X ~ 10 in near-infrared (J, H, Ks bands; λ ~ 1.2-2.2 ㎛), if the representative particle size of 5 ㎛ is considered. Accordingly, the near-infrared polarimetry has a great potential to validate the idea in ref[1]. We conducted near-infrared photopolarimetry of the large asteroid (4) Vesta using the Nishiharima Infrared Camera (NIC) at Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory (NHAO). NIC allows simultaneous polarimetric measurements in J, H, and Ks bands, and thus the change of PPC is obtained for three different size parameters. As a result, we found a signature of the change in the negative branch in the PPC of asteroid (4) Vesta. We will introduce our observation and the results and give an interpretation of the regolith on Vesta.

• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.183-188
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• 2005

A simple microwave backscattering model for vegetation canopies on earth surfaces is developed in this study. A natural earth surface is modeled as a two-layer structure comprising a vegetation layer and a ground layer. This scattering model includes various scattering mechanisms up to the first-order multiple scattering( double-bounce scattering). Radar backscatter from ground surface has been modeled by the polarimetric semi-empirical model (PSEM), while the backscatter from the vegetation layer modeled by the vector radiative transfer model. The vegetation layer is modeled by random distribution of mixed scattering particles, such as leaves, branches and trunks. The number of input parameters has been minimized to simplify the scattering model. The computation results are compared with the experimental measurements, which were obtained by ground-based scatterometers and NASA/JPL air-borne synthetic aperture radar(SAR) system. It was found that the scattering model agrees well with the experimental data, even though the model used only ten input parameters.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2013

Microwave remote sensing can help monitor the land surface water cycle and crop growth. This type of remote sensing has great potential over conventional remote sensing using the visible and infrared regions due to its all-weather day-and-night imaging capabilities. In this paper, a ground-based multi-frequency (L-, C-, and X-band) polarimetric scatterometer system capable of making observations every 10 min was developed. This system was used to monitor the wheat over an entire growth cycle. The polarimetric scatterometer components were installed inside an air-conditioned shelter to maintain constant temperature and humidity during the data acquisition period. Backscattering coefficients for the crop growing season were compared with biophysical measurements. Backscattering coefficients for all frequencies and polarizations increased until dat of year 137 and then decreased along with fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, and vegetation water content (VWC). The range of backscatter for X-band was lower than for L- and C-band. We examined the relationship between the backscattering coefficients of each band (frequency/polarization) and the various wheat growth parameters. The correlation between the different vegetation parameters and backscatter decreased with increasing frequency. L-band HH-polarization (L-HH) is best suited for the monitoring of fresh weight (r=0.98), dry weight (r=0.96), VWC (r=0.98), and plant height (r=0.96). The correlation coefficients were highest for L-band observations and lowest for X-band. Also, HH-polarization had the highest correlations among the polarization channels (HH, VV and HV). Based on the correlation analysis between backscattering coefficients in each band and wheat growth parameters, we developed prediction equations using the L-HH based on the observed relationships between L-HH and fresh weight, dry weight, VWC and plant height. The results of these analyses will be useful in determining the optimum microwave frequency and polarizations necessary for estimating vegetation parameters in the wheat.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.285-298
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• 2015

Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) with bright radio jets offer the opportunity to study the structure of and physical conditions in relativistic outflows. For such studies, multi-frequency polarimetric very long baseline interferometric (VLBI) observations are important as they directly probe particle densities, magnetic field geometries, and several other parameters. We present results from first-epoch data obtained by the Korean VLBI Network (KVN) within the frame of the Plasma Physics of Active Galactic Nuclei (PAGaN) project. We observed seven radio-bright nearby AGN at frequencies of 22, 43, 86, and 129 GHz in dual polarization mode. Our observations constrain apparent brightness temperatures of jet components and radio cores in our sample to > 10^8.01 K and > 10^9.86 K, respectively. Degrees of linear polarization m_L are relatively low overall: less than 10%. This indicates suppression of polarization by strong turbulence in the jets. We found an exceptionally high degree of polarization in a jet component of BL Lac at 43 GHz, with m_L ~ 40%. Assuming a transverse shock front propagating downstream along the jet, the shock front being almost parallel to the line of sight can explain the high degree of polarization.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.191-201
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• 2011

Soybean has widely grown for its edible bean which has numerous uses. Microwave remote sensing has a great potential over the conventional remote sensing with the visible and infrared spectra due to its all-weather day-and-night imaging capabilities. In this investigation, a ground-based polarimetric scatterometer operating at multiple frequencies was used to continuously monitor the crop conditions of a soybean field. Polarimetric backscatter data at L, C, and X-bands were acquired every 10 minutes on the microwave observations at various soybean stages. The polarimetric scatterometer consists of a vector network analyzer, a microwave switch, radio frequency cables, power unit and a personal computer. The polarimetric scatterometer components were installed inside an air-conditioned shelter to maintain constant temperature and humidity during the data acquisition period. The backscattering coefficients were calculated from the measured data at incidence angle $40^{\circ}$ and full polarization (HH, VV, HV, VH) by applying the radar equation. The soybean growth data such as leaf area index (LAI), plant height, fresh and dry weight, vegetation water content and pod weight were measured periodically throughout the growth season. We measured the temporal variations of backscattering coefficients of the soybean crop at L, C, and X-bands during a soybean growth period. In the three bands, VV-polarized backscattering coefficients were higher than HH-polarized backscattering coefficients until mid-June, and thereafter HH-polarized backscattering coefficients were higher than VV-, HV-polarized back scattering coefficients. However, the cross-over stage (HH > VV) was different for each frequency: DOY 200 for L-band and DOY 210 for both C and X-bands. The temporal trend of the backscattering coefficients for all bands agreed with the soybean growth data such as LAI, dry weight and plant height; i.e., increased until about DOY 271 and decreased afterward. We plotted the relationship between the backscattering coefficients with three bands and soybean growth parameters. The growth parameters were highly correlated with HH-polarization at L-band (over r=0.92).

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.534-537
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• 2005

Polarization of the radar wave refers to the ellipticity angle and orientation angle of the polarization ellipse. An evaluation of the polarization response can help understand the scattering mechanisms involved for a particular area of interest or provide information for image classification and algorithm section. C- and L-band polarization responses measured at urban area show the results that the polarization behavior for dihedral comer reflector or short, thin cylinder reflector appears at located in city streets or buildings site which are lined up and the polarization behavior for a large conducting sphere appears at parts of test site particularly river, flat, and vegetated areas. Also, the co- and cross-polarized response graphs and polarimetric parameters are discussed.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.100.2-100.2
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• 2012

We performed near-IR imaging polarimetry of the $5{\times}9$ fields (${\sim}39^{\prime}{\times}69^{\prime}$) around 30 Doradus in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), using the InfraRed Survey Facility (IRSF). We obtained polarimetry data in the J, H, and Ks bands using the JHKs-simultaneous imaging polarimeter SIRPOL in 2008 December and 2011 December. With the reliable LMC field data which were selected using a bad-data-rejection algorithm, we measured Stokes parameters of point-like sources to derive the degree of polarization and the polarization position angle. We present physical relationship between the three bands using the photometric and the polarimetric properties of the sources.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.427-436
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• 2008

This paper presents radar remote sensing of soil moisture and surface roughness for vegetated surfaces. A precise volume scattering model for a vegetated surface is derived based on the first-order radiative transfer technique. At first, the scattering mechanisms of the scattering model are analyzed for various conditions of the vegetation canopies. Then, the scattering model is simplified step by step for developing an appropriate inversion algorithm. For verifying the scattering model and the inversion algorithm, the polarimetric backscattering coefficients at 1.85 GHz, as well as the ground truth data, of a tall-grass field are measured for various soil moisture conditions. The genetic algorithm is employed in the inversion algorithm for retrieving soil moisture and surface roughness from the radar measurements. It is found that the scattering model agrees quite well with the measurements. It is also found that the retrieved soil moisture and surface roughness parameters agree well with the field-measured ground truth data.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.497-500
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• 2005

Research and development of remote sensing technique is necessary so that more accurate and extensive information may be obtained. To achieve this goal, the synthesized technique which integrates the high resolution optic and SAR image, and topographical information was examined to investigate the quantitative/qualitative characteristics of the Earth's surface environment. For this purpose, high-precision DEMs of Jeju-Island was generated and data fusion algorithm was developed in order to integrate the multi-spectral optic and polarimetric SAR image. Three dimensional land-cover and two dimensional soil moisture maps were generated conclusively so as to investigate the Earth's surface environments and extract the geophysical parameters.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.324-327
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• 2008

Microwave remote sensing has great potential, especially in monsoon Asia, since optical observations are often hampered by cloudy conditions. The radar backscattering characteristics of rice crop were investigated with a ground-based automatic scatterometer system. The system was installed inside a shelter in an experimental paddy field at the National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (NIAST) before transplanting. The rice cultivar was a kind of Japonica type, called Chuchung. The scatterometer system consists of X-band antennas, HP8720D vector network analyzer, RF cables, and a personal computer that controls frequency, polarization and data storage. This system automatically measures fully-polarimatric backscattering coefficients of rice crop every 10 minutes, accompanied by a digital camera that takes pictures in a fixed position with the same interval. The backscattering coefficients were calculated by applying a radar equation. Plant variables, such as leaf area index (LAI), biomass, plant height and weather conditions were measured periodically throughout the rice growth season. We have performed polarimetric decomposition of paddy data such as single, double and volume scattering to extract the scattering information effectively. We investigated the relationships between backscattering coefficients and the plant variables.