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A rough‐surface scattering function for Titan radar studies
Author(s) -
Campbell Bruce A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2007gl030442
Subject(s) - radar , geology , scattering , titan (rocket family) , surface roughness , remote sensing , bistatic radar , radar imaging , wavelength , surface finish , radar horizon , optics , physics , materials science , computer science , telecommunications , quantum mechanics , astronomy , composite material
Numerous studies show a relationship between radar backscattering and surface roughness. While estimating the statistical properties of small‐scale topography is of particular interest for geologic analysis of Cassini radar data, there is no analytic description of radar scattering over a wide range of incidence angles and roughness. This paper presents an empirical function that links the rms slope at the horizontal scale of the wavelength and HH‐ or VV‐polarization radar echoes. The model is based on comparison of 24‐cm wavelength AIRSAR data for lava flows in Hawai'i, at incidence angles of 25° to 55°, with topographic profiles at 25‐cm posting. Comparison of model predictions to the range of observed Titan echoes suggests that the radar return is often dominated by a component arising from subsurface scattering.