Natural Resources Canada | Ressources naturelles CanadaGovernment of Canada
Skip common menu bar (access key: Alt M)Skip institutional menu bar (access key: Alt 1)Skip all menu bars (access key: Alt 2)FrançaisContact CCRSCCRS Site HelpSearch the CCRS WebsiteGovernment of Canada web site
Canada Centre for Remote SensingHome page of the Canada Centre for Remote SensingDetailed Listing of this SiteTechnical publications of CCRS staffExplanations of remote sensing terminology.Natural Resources Canada
Staff and organizationCCRS research programsImages and SensorsLearning aids and reference materialsThe Canadian remote sensing community

Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Sensors
3. Microwaves
4. Image Analysis
5. Applications

Home > LearningTutorials

Fundamentals of Remote Sensing


Chapter 3

 

3.10 Answer

The backscatter response, and thus the appearance of an object or feature on a radar image, is dependent on several things.

  • Different radar wavelengths or frequencies will result in variations due to their differing sensitivities to surface roughness, which controls the amount of energy backscattered.
  • Using different polarizations will also affect how the energy interacts with a target and the subsequent energy that is reflected back to the radar.
  • Variations in viewing geometry, including look/incidence angle, the look direction and orientation of features to the radar, and the local incidence angle at which the radar energy strikes the surface, play a major role in the amount of energy reflected. Generally, these differences can be quite significant between airborne and spaceborne platforms.
  • Changes in the moisture content of an object or feature will also change the amount of backscatter.

Back to the question...

back to Section 3.10 Section 3.11


Updated 2002-11-27 go to top of page Important Notices