Comparison of TRMM and NSCAT observations of surface backscatter over the Amazon rain forest

The Tropical Rain Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar (PR) is designed to measure backscatter from rain in order to map the amount and extent of rain in the tropical regions. The TRMM PR also measures the normalized radar cross section (/spl sigma//spl deg/) of the surface at a nominal resolution of approximately 4.4 km over an incidence range of 0-18/spl deg/. The Ku-band NASA Scatterometer (NSCAT) made 25 km resolution measurements of the surface /spl sigma//spl deg/ at incidence angles of 15.5/spl deg/ and higher and at 10.5/spl deg/. A comparison of NSCAT and TRMM PR /spl sigma//spl deg/ observations over the Amazon rain forest is presented. The relative calibration and noise levels of the two sensors are compared.

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