Experimental validation of surface scattering and emission models

Multifrequency polarimetric scattering and emissivity measurements have been carried out on three experimental dielectric models, characterized by random surfaces with different statistics. The results of the measurements have been compared with simulations obtained through physical models based on the classical approximations of physical optics (PO), geometrical optics (GO), small perturbation (SP), and integral equation model (IEM). The comparison of experimental data with theory has shown that, even when the parameters of the observed surface are well determined and known, some discrepancy may exist between models and measurements. Except for a few cases, this discrepancy is quite small and may be insignificant for many practical applications. The IEM has been proven to have a wider range of applicability with respect to other tested approximations.