Exploring Sentinel-1 backscatter time series over the Atacama Desert (Chile) for seasonal dynamics of surface soil moisture

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Title:Main Title: Exploring Sentinel-1 backscatter time series over the Atacama Desert (Chile) for seasonal dynamics of surface soil moisture
Description:Abstract: Recent research indicates an inverse relation between Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) signal and near-surface soil moisture (SM) over very dry sediments, arid to hyper-arid soils resp., caused by subsurface scattering effects. This phenomenon can lead to large errors when it comes to modelling and remote sensing-based estimation of SM. While the effect of subsurface scattering and its influence on SM estimates is well described and modelled in literature, its actual presence in recorded SAR data is largely unknown. Here we investigate the relation between C-Band SAR backscatter and SM in the hyper-arid environment of the Atacama Desert (Chile). Time series (2018–2020) of Sentinel-1 VV/VH intensities are compared to in situ SM, measured at 17 stations located across the Atacama Desert. Linear and non-linear regression modelling is applied to uncover the relationship between the SAR intensities and in situ SM, while, in addition, SM variations triggered by seasonal varying humidity (i.e., not by precipitation) are investigated. Results indicate (i) a very weak linear relationship between SM variations and SAR intensities (VV/VH) for most meteorological stations in the Atacama (R2 < 0.5). In particular, noticeable and significant exceptions are found for stations located in the northern uplands of the Coastal Cordillera and on sediments, which are characterized by thick atmospheric dust deposits on top of subsurface cemented crusts; (ii) over these sites a strong inverse linear relationship is present (R2 up to 0.84) and the observable seasonal variations in SAR intensity are linked to the seasonal variations in SM; (iii) remarkably low changes in SM (ranging from approx. 1 to 3%) lead to comparable high changes in SAR intensity (up to 5.5 dB in VH and up to 4.0 dB in VV); (iv) employing a non-linear regression modelling to the SAR time series allowed identifying the occurrence and the strength of seasonal variations over the central desert. This study contributes to a better understanding of SAR scattering over arid to hyper-arid soils, indicates a moisture regulated complex interplay of surface and subsurface scattering, and proves the presence of subsurface scattering effects in Sentinel-1C-Band data to occur over large parts of the Atacama Desert.
Responsible Party
Creators:Tobias Ullmann (Author), Thomas Jagdhuber (Author), Dirk Hoffmeister (Author), Matthias May (Author), Roland Baumhauer (Author), Olaf Bubenzer (Principal Investigator)
Publisher:Elsevier
Publication Year:2022
Topic
CRC1211 Topic:Remote Sensing
Related Subprojects:Z3, Z2
Subjects:Keywords: Satellite remote sensing, Terrestrial Observation, Soil Sciences
Geogr. Information Topic:Environment
File Details
Filename:Ullmannetal_2022_ReSenEnv.pdf
Data Type:Text - Regular Paper
File Size:18.6 MB
Date:Accepted: 06.12.2022
Mime Type:application/pdf
Data Format:PDF
Language:English
Status:Completed
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Download Permission:Only Project Members (Download Embargo will be lifted after project end)
General Access and Use Conditions:According to the CRC1211DB data policy agreement.
Access Limitations:According to the CRC1211DB data policy agreement.
Licence:[Creative Commons] Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
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Specific Information - Publication
Publication Status:Published
Review Status:Peer reviewed
Publication Type:Article
Article Type:Journal
Source:Remote Sensing of Environment
Source Website:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2022.113413
Volume:285,113413
Number of Pages:18 (1 - 18)
Metadata Details
Metadata Creator:Simon Matthias May
Metadata Created:22.12.2022
Metadata Last Updated:22.12.2022
Subproject:Z3
Funding Phase:2
Metadata Language:English
Metadata Version:V50
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