Snowpack permittivity profile retrieval from tomographic SAR data

This work deals with 3D structure characterization and permittivity profile retrieval of snowpacks by tomographic SAR data processing. The acquisition system is a very high resolution ground based SAR system, developed and operated by the SAPHIR team, of IETR, University of Rennes-1 (France). It consists mainly of a vector network analyser and a multi-static antenna system, moving along two orthogonal directions, so as to obtain a two-dimensional synthetic array. Data were acquired during the AlpSAR campaign carried by the European Space Agency and led by ENVEO. In this study, tomographic imaging is performed using Time Domain Back Projection and consists in coherently combining the different recorded backscatter contributions. The assumption of free-space propagation during the focusing process is discussed and illustrated by focusing experimental data. An iterative method for estimating true refractive indices of the snow layers is presented. The antenna pattern is also compensated for. The obtained tomograms after refractive index correction are compared to the stratigraphy of the observed snowpack.