Modeling Surface and Subsurface Scattering from Saline Soils

lossy dielectric materials. The Small Perturbation Model is used to estimate the relative amplitude and phase of polarimetric radar backscatter returns from each layer, and interactions at the air-surface interface are addressed using the complex amplitude Fresnel transmission coefficients for a lossy dielectric. The model is shown to be in good agreement with NASA/JPL AIRSAR polarimetric SAR data obtained over Death Valley. Anomalous HH-VV phase differences and HH/VV amplitude ratios are consistent with surface scattering from a salt pan, consisting of salt mixed with a highly saline brine solution to form the surface dielectric material.