Retrieval of Both Soil Moisture and Texture Using TerraSAR-X Images

Remote Sensing

Azza Gorrab²  Mehrez Zribi²  Nicolas Baghdadi³  Bernard Mougenot²  Pascal Fanise²  Zohra Lili Chabaane⁴  Wolfgang Wagner¹ 

[1] CESBIO (CNRS/UPS/IRD/CNES), 18 av. Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse cedex 9, France;;CESBIO (CNRS/UPS/IRD/CNES), 18 av. Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse cedex 9, France; E-Mails:;IRSTEA, UMR TETIS, 500 rue François Breton, 34093 Montpellier cedex 5, France; E-Mail:;Rural engineering, water and forest department, INAT/University of Carthage, 43, Avenue Charles Nicolle 1082 Tunis-Mahrajène, Tunisia; E-Mail:

关键词: TerraSAR-X;    radar;    soil moisture;    texture;    clay content soil moisture;    soil roughness;   

DOI  :  10.3390/rs70810098

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The aim of this paper is to propose a methodology combing multi-temporal X-band SAR images (TerraSAR-X) with continuous ground thetaprobe measurements, for the retrieval of surface soil moisture and texture at a high spatial resolution. Our analysis is based on seven radar images acquired at a 36° incidence angle in the HH polarization, over a semi-arid site in Tunisia (North Africa). The soil moisture estimations are based on an empirical change detection approach using TerraSAR-X data and ground auxiliary thetaprobe network measurements. Two assumptions were tested: (1) roughness variations during the three-month radar acquisition campaigns were not accounted for; (2) a simple correction for temporal variations in roughness was included. The results reveal a small improvement in the estimation of soil moisture when a correction for temporal variations in roughness is introduced. By considering the estimated temporal dynamics of soil moisture, a methodology is proposed for the retrieval of clay and sand content (expressed as percentages) in soil. Two empirical relationships were established between the mean moisture values retrieved from the seven acquired radar images and the two soil texture components over 36 test fields. Validation of the proposed approach was carried out over a second set of 34 fields, showing that highly accurate clay estimations can be achieved. Maps of soil moisture, clay and sand percentages at the studied site are derived.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.