Model-Based Pseudo-Quad-Pol Reconstruction from Compact Polarimetry and Its Application to Oil-Spill Observation

Abstract

Compact polarimetry is an effective imaging mode for wide area observation, especially for the open ocean. In this study, we propose a new method for pseudo-quad-polarization reconstruction from compact polarimetry based on the three-component decomposition. By using the decomposed powers, the reconstruction model is established as a power-weighted model. Further, the phase of the copolarized correlation is taken into consideration. The phase of double-bounce scattering is closer to π than to 0, while the phase of surface scattering is closer to 0 than to π. By considering the negative (double-bounce reflection) and positive (surface reflection) copolarized correlation, the reconstruction model for full polarimetry has a good consistency with the real polarimetric SAR data. -band ALOS/PALSAR-1 fully polarimetric data acquired on August 27, 2006, over an oil-spill area are used for demonstration. Reconstruction performance is evaluated with a set of typical polarimetric oil-spill indicators. Quantitative comparison is given. Results show that the proposed model-based method is of great potential for oil-spill observation.