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Radiometric calibration stability assessment for the RISAT-1 SAR sensor using a deployed point target array at the Desalpar site, Rann of Kutch, India

ABSTRACT Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data used for quantitative temporal and/or spatial analysis requires calibration to ensure that observed pixel values of amplitude and phase can be related to the geophysical parameters of interest. The process of radiometric calibration of SAR images involves comparison of the backscattered radar reflectivity signal from a ground resolution element containing a calibration target of known signal response, such as a corner reflector. In this study, absolute radiometric calibration of RISAT-1 intensity data of fine resolution stripmap-1 (FRS-1) and medium resolution ScanSAR (MRS) mode was carried out by utilizing array of standard point targets of various types (triangular trihedral, square trihedral, and dihedral) with known radar cross-section deployed prior to satellite overpass with precise azimuth and elevation angles in Desalpar, Rann of Kutch in western India. The derived calibration constants using the integral method were then compared with the values provided in the header file. Deviations in the results are reported in this article. The results obtained show that the difference between the estimated average calibration constants for FRS-1 and MRS mode data with the provided value was found to be within the absolute radiometric accuracy specification of Radar Imaging SATellite (RISAT-1). Near-range to far-range difference of 0.1–0.2 dB for HH (Horizontal transmit, Horizontal receive) polarization and 0.1–0.3 dB for HV (Horizontal transmit, Vertical receive) polarization was estimated for the same scene using distributed target analysis indicating the stability of calibration for the same scene. This study also concluded that Desalpar site in Rann of Kutch has the potential of being an operational SAR calibration site.