Polarimetric enhancement in radar channel imagery

Abstract

This paper applied the polarimetric filtering principle to Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image sets in three possible polarimetric radar channels and compared the resultant imagery. The polarimetric radar channels in consideration here are Co-pol, Cross (X)-pol, and Matched (M)-pol channels. Each channel has its own polarimetric characteristics for imaging. Using the formulation of the contrast enhancement factors based on the Stokes vector formalism, polarimetric enhanced images for three channels are shown using NASA JPL DC-8 AIRSAR data sets (CC0045L, Bonanza Creek, AK/USA). It is shown that the optimally enhanced Co- and X-Pol channel images play a decisive role in imaging in a complex featured background.