Prediction of Polarimetric-SAR Field-Orientation Rotation Due to Topographical Slope Variation for Squint Operations

Local surface slope variations can impact synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery by changing the perceived polarization state of the imaged region. Correction of the topography-induced effects results in more accurate evaluation of polarimetric parameters. In this letter, the polarization-orientation angle (POA) correction is analytically estimated for a general polarimetric-SAR scenario operating at a known squint angle based upon a digital elevation model, permitting correction of the topography-induced effects. It can also aid to identify a squint angle that can counteract the effect of a specific POA rotation. Model parameters are demonstrated through a software implementation.