Quantitative Evaluation of the Soil Signal Effect on the Correlation between Sentinel-1 Cross Ratio and Snow Depth

Abstract

High-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), as an efficient Earth observation technology, can be used as a complementary means of observation for snow depth (SD) and can address the spatial heterogeneity of mountain snow. However, there is still uncertainty in the SD retrieval algorithm based on SAR data, due to soil surface scattering. The aim of this study is to quantify the impact of soil signals on the SD retrieval method based on the cross-ratio (CR) of high-spatial resolution SAR images. Utilizing ascending Sentinel-1 observation data during the period from November 2016 to March 2020 and a CR method based on VH- and VV-polarization, we quantitatively analyzed the CR variability characteristics of rock and soil areas within typical thick snow study areas in the Northern Hemisphere from temporal and spatial perspectives. The correlation analysis demonstrated that the CR signal in rock areas at a daily timescale shows a strong correlation (mean value > 0.60) with snow depth. Furthermore, the soil areas are more influenced by freeze-thaw cycles, such that the monthly CR changes showed no or negative trend during the snow accumulation period. This study highlights the complexity of the physical mechanisms of snow scattering during winter processes and the influencing factors that cause uncertainty in the SD retrieval, which help to promote the development of high-spatial resolution C-band data for snow characterization applications.