Estimation of emissivity and scattering coefficient of the constituents of vegetation at microwave frequencies

Abstract

A vegetation canopy is a dielectric mixture consisting of discrete dielectric inclusions (leaves, stalks and fruits) distributed in a host material (air). The scattering and emission behaviour of vegetation canopy made up of neem-like trees has been studied. The estimation of emissivity, brightness temperature and scattering coefficient has been made using the measured values of dielectric constant. The measurement of dielectric constant of neem leaves has been carried out using waveguide cell method in the frequency range of X-band (8.2 GHz-12.4 GHz) at 9.035 GHz. The estimations of emissivity, brightness temperature and scattering coefficient are made for incidence angles varying from 0° to 80° for both horizontal and vertical polarization. The results of emissivity and scattering coefficient so obtained have been presented.