Performance Analysis of Roll-Invariant PolSAR Parameters from C-band images with Regard to Sea Ice Type Separation

Abstract

The Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PolSAR) backscatter from a target is dependent on the incidence angle. Consequently, the associated roll invariant parameters are affected by changes in incidence angle. In this work, we identify a few of these parameters that remain robust in identifying sea ice features even under large incidence angle variations. We conclude that the helicity angle and the degree of purity are preferable over the scattering type angle in this respect. We utilize two overlapping RADARSAT-2 C-Band full polarimetric images, with a time difference of less than 2 hours, but with significant incidence angle difference.