Frank Ahern

Dr. Frank Ahern

TerreVista Earth Imaging

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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27 June 2021 in Remote Sensing
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
NMNatalia Morandeira
Natalia Morandeira
MBMatias Barber
Matias Barber
FGFrancisco Matías Grings
Francisco Matías Grings
FAFrank Ahern
Frank Ahern
PKPatricia Kandus
Patricia Kandus
Brian BriscoBrian Brisco
Brian Brisco
Wetland ecosystems play a key role in hydrological and biogeochemical cycles. In emergent vegetation targets, the occurrence of double-bounce scatter is indicative of the presence of water and can be valuable for hydrological monitoring. Double-bounce scatter would lead to an increase of σ0HH over σ0VV and a non-zero co-polarized phase difference (CPD). In the Lower Paraná River floodplain, a total of 11 full polarimetric RADARSAT-2 scenes from a wide range of incidence angles were acquired during a month. Flooded targets dominated by two herbaceous species were sampled: Schoenoplectus californicus (four sites, Bulrush marshes) and Ludwigia peruviana (three sites, Broadleaf marshes). As a general trend, σ0HH was higher than σ0VV, especially at the steeper incidence angles. By modeling CPD with maximum likelihood estimations, we found results consistent with double-bounce scatter in two Ludwigia plots, at certain scene incidence angles. Incidence angle accounted for most of the variation on σ0HH, whereas emergent green biomass was the main feature influencing σ0HV. Multivariate models explaining backscattering variation included the incidence angle and at least two of these variables: emergent plant height, stem diameter, number of green stems, and emergent green biomass. This study provides an example of using CPD to decide on the contribution of double-bounce scatter and highlights the influence of vegetation biomass on radar response. Even with the presence of water below vegetation, the contribution of double-bounce scatter to C-band backscattering depends on scene incidence angles and may be negligible in dense herbaceous targets.