An automatic method to distinguish water surfaces (either flooded or permanent bodies) from artifacts caused by heavy precipitation and wet snow is designed improve flood detection accuracy in X-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. The algorithm implementing the proposed method, mainly based on image segmentation techniques fuzzy logic, consists of two principal steps: 1) regions (or segments) low-radar backscatter that appear dark a SAR image, 2) classification each detected segment....

Abstract. X-band Synthetic Aperture Radars (X-SARs), able to image the Earth's surface at metric resolution, may provide a unique opportunity measure rainfall over land with spatial resolution of about few hundred meters, due atmospheric moving-target degradation effects. This capability has become very appealing recent launch several X-SAR satellites, even though remote sensing issues are still open. work is devoted to: (i) explore potential high-resolution detection and retrieval fields...

Five spaceborne X-band synthetic aperture radars (X-SARs) are nowadays operating, and several more will be launched in the coming years. These X-SAR sensors, able to image Earth's surface at metric resolution, may provide a unique opportunity measure rainfall over land with spatial resolution of about few hundred meters due moving-target degradation effects. This work is devoted experimentally demonstrate this capability, which can also exploited correct radar (SAR) imagery for attenuation...

Free space optics (FSO) channel availability is affected by atmospheric water particles, which may introduce severe path attenuation. A unified microphysically oriented particle scattering (MAPS) model proposed and described to simulate effects on FSO links. Atmospheric such as raindrops, graupel snowflakes, together with fog droplets, are considered. Input data characterize liquid frozen size distribution, density, refractivity derived from available literature measurements. Scattering,...

Spaceborne synthetic aperture radars (SARs) exhibit the appealing imaging feature of very high spatial resolution (on order meters). At frequency above C-band, atmospheric effects, and particularly signature precipitating clouds, cannot be neglected on both amplitude phase received signal. The impact precipitation SAR slant-view imagery is due to a combination surface volumetric backscattering, coupled with path attenuation significant dependence frequency, polarization, distribution...

In this work, an automatic method to distinguish, in X-band SAR images such as those supplied by Cosmo-SkyMed, water surfaces (either flooded, or permanent bodies) from artifacts due heavy precipitation, is designed improve flood detection accuracy. The method, mainly based on the fuzzy logic, consists of two main steps, i.e., low backscatter areas and classification each dark object present considered image. algorithm uses ancillary data, a local incidence angle map Land Cover map. Through...

An inversion methodology, named maximum-likelihood (ML) volcanic ash light detection and ranging (Lidar) retrieval (VALR-ML), has been developed applied to estimate particle size mass concentration within plumes. Both estimations are based on the ML approach, trained by a polarimetric backscattering forward model coupled with Monte Carlo microphysical model. The VALR-ML approach is Lidar depolarization profiles, measured at visible wavelength during two eruptions of Mt. Etna, Catania, Italy,...

In agricultural fields, the damage caused by salinized winds is crucial for crops. order to minimize damage, it required detect damaged areas and enact proper procedures in save fields immediately after disaster. this paper, we propose indices that can indicate degree of salt-breezed damages early withering-up stage. To indices, high-spatial-resolution hyperspectral data taken actual paddy are analyzed. addition, sequential change rice within artificial experiments recorded interpret...

A promising technology for peer-to-peer connections and urban area networks is represented by wireless communications through free space using optical carrier (Free Space Optics, FSO). This ensures high data rates, with relatively low error power consumption inherent security. Nevertheless FSO links are quite sensitive to atmospheric condition. Fog droplets, but also raindrops snowflakes, may introduce severe path attenuation which drastically reduces the channel availability. parametric...

Previous studies have shown the potentiality of X-band synthetic aperture radar in measuring rainfall. A microwave forward model describes Normalized Radar Cross Section (NRCS) as composed by a surface contribution and volumetric inversion techniques were used to derive precipitation over land, particularly bare soil. However, different surfaces may affect SAR signature, so here, we present sensitivity analysis effects for three frequencies such C-, X- Ku-band using two-layer precipitating...

The improvements of the instrumentation available within free space optics (FSO) link set up in Roman area (Italy) is illustrated together with FSO channel physical modelling activity. wireless optical at 1550 nm 1.650 km long and has a transmission rate to 1.5 Gbps. This intended be, next future, trunk sector convergent passive network (G-PON). Among particle scattering effects affecting capacity channel, focus placed on raindrop fog droplets. An evaluation these atmospheric comparison...

Nowadays very high resolution (VHR) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems can provide near real time earthquake damage maps with an degree of details to stakeholders in charge managing the emergency phase. However, increased introduces new challenges interpret and detect changes urban areas caused by seismic events. In metric SAR sensors a building appears as complex image structures associated different scattering mechanisms, preventing use pixel-based algorithms. this paper we propose...

Recent spaceborne polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radars (SARs) enable the complete characterization of target scattering and extinction properties. Several missions are operating at X band while there plans analyses for systems higher frequencies, such as Ka band. Systems these frequencies have interesting distinctive applications in field geosciences Cartography, Surface deformation detection, Forest cover mapping many others. However, detected ground surface response can be affected by...

Wireless communications using free space optics (FSO) are sensitive to atmospheric conditions. Clear-air turbulence can introduce severe impairments reducing FSO channel availability. Radiosounding profiles, available near Rome (Italy) and Munich (Germany), used estimate the power scintillation index through a new physical refractive structure constant model fade statistics for near-infrared FSO. Preliminary qualitative validation is performed campaign both terrestrial slant links.

Space-borne X-band synthetic aperture radars (SARs) provide a unique opportunity to measure rainfall over land with unsurpassed spatial resolution of about few hundred meters. This work explores the potential space-borne X-SARs estimate from both model and retrieval point view. The main objective is framework for physically-based inversion SARs measurements at X (9.6 GHz), Ku (14 GHz) Ka (30 band land. A forward SAR response will be illustrated X, bands. We present an methodology,...

Spaceborne synthetic aperture radars (SARs) operating at X-band and above allow observations of Earth surface very high spatial resolution. Moreover, recent polarimetric SARs enable the complete characterization target scattering extinction properties. Nowadays several spaceborne SAR systems are operative, plans exist for higher frequency bands (i.e. Ku, Ka W). Although frequencies may have interesting distinctive applications, atmospheric effects, especially in precipitating conditions,...

Free space communications, using optical carriers (Free Space Optics, FSO) technology, ensure high data rates, with relatively low error power consumption and inherent security. However, FSO links are quite sensitive to atmospheric conditions. Fog droplets, but also raindrops snowflakes, may introduce severe path attenuation which drastically reduces the channel availability. A parametric model simulate droplets scattering effects on (from visible near infrared wavelengths) is proposed in...

This paper presents an investigation on the rainfall signature for two COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) satellite case studies. Both of them are relative to a severe precipitation weather event, occurred in northwestern Italy (close Liguria region) November 3-8, 2011. event was monitored by using number CSK images provided Italian Space Agency (ASI). In this X-SAR data have been compared with radar (WR) Radar National Mosaic. A third study is Hurricane "Irene" Eastern United States Delaware) late August...

Nowadays a well-established tool for Earth remote sensing is represented by Spaceborne synthetic aperture radars (SARs) operating at L-band and above that offers microwave perspective very high spatial resolution in almost all-weather conditions. Nevertheless, atmospheric precipitating clouds can significantly affect the signal backscattered from ground surface on both amplitude phase, as assessed numerous recent works analyzing data collected COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) TerraSAR-X (TSX) missions. On...

Wireless communications using free space optics (FSO) are sensitive to atmospheric conditions. Hydrometeors, but also clear-air turbulence, may introduce severe impairments reducing FSO channel availability. Yearly radiosounding profiles, available near Rome (Italy), used estimate the power scintillation index through a new physical turbulence structure constant model and fade statistics for near-infrared FSO.

Active remote sensing retrieval from ground, in terms of detection, estimation and sensitivity, volcanic ash plumes is not only dependent on the sensors' specifications, but also range cloud distribution. The minimum detectable signal can be increased, for a given system plume scenario, by decreasing observation increasing operational frequency using multi-sensor approach, exploiting possible polarimetric capabilities. This work, starting results previous study above mentioned issues, aimed...

Spaceborne X-band synthetic aperture radars (SARs) represent a well-established tool for Earth remote sensing at very high spatial resolution (order of meters). Until now, SAR has not been exploited hydrological cycle modelling and numerical weather forecast, however, there are scientific evidences that X band beyond: i) atmospheric precipitation in liquid ice phase affect imagery its intensity can be retrieved, ii) snow areal extent mass (water-equivalent) detected estimated. KydroSAT...