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Review the Effects of Topography and Local Incident Angle on Image Brightness.

Abstract The effects of image brightness are primarily from three different surface variables like topographic effects, roughness, and electrical properties (John P. Ford and Jeffrey J. Plaut, 1992). But, in this context we only review the two variables that topography and surface roughness that each of which is influenced to some extent by variations in the radar incidence angle and or the direction of illumination. These variables will give the changes of the images brightness that the smaller local incident angle or far range the area will be brighter and high scatter will be higher in this area. Then, the larger local incident angle or near range the area will be darker and in this area backscatter will be lower. So, from that we know the local incident angle and surface roughness will effects the image brightness either will be bright or dark. It means that the rough surface give brighter than a smooth area surface. Key words: Local Incident Angle, Topography (surface roughness), Image Brightness. Introduction Incident Angle is the angle defined by the incident radar beam and the vertical (normal) to the intercepting surface. In general, reflectivity from distributed scatter decreases with increasing incidence angle. The incidence angle is commonly used to describe the angular relationship between the radar beam and the ground, surface layer or a target. A change of the radar illumination angle often affects the radar backscattering behavior of a surface or target. The incidence angle changes across the radar image swath and it increases from near range to far range. In the case of satellite radar imagery, the change of incident angle for flat terrain across the imaging swath tends to be rather small, usually on the order of several degrees. Then, local incident angle is defined as the angle between the range vector and the surface normal to each terrain element imaged by the SAR. The term local incident angle takes into account the local slope of the terrain at any location within the image. It is the local incident angle which in part determines the image brightness or tone for each pixel. Local incident angle is the largest source of error in radiometric calibration. Figure 1 shows the comparison

between

Incidence

Angle

and

Local

Incidence Angle.

Figure 1 Brightness may be a result of variations in tone, texture, or in the case of radar imagery, radar artifacts. The

topography and surface roughness of the terrain will affect the image brightness. Where the local incident angle is large, the image will be dark. Conversely, the image will be brighter where the local incidence angle is small. Sources will be effects of Topography and Local Incident Angle on Image Figure 2 Figure 2 shows the effects of Topography or Local Incident Angle on Image Brightness by illustrates how these sources will effects the image brightness. The local topographic slope causes changes in local incident angles. The small local incident angle and the flight path will be Far Range and the image will be brighter and radar backscatter will be higher that means the surface are more roughness.

Brightness.

Inversely, the larger local incident angle and the flight path will be Near Range and image brightness will be darker and radar backscatter is lower and means this area are more smooth than the other area. But, the slope will block eliminates the signal and it will cause the area have a shadow that means not every darker area is a smooth surface but it caused by a shadow. So, we must be carefully interpreted the image and know the flight path direction of the image. Figure 2 below shows the examples of image brightness that effected by the topography and local incident angle. But the Slope-induced radiometric effects are useful for some applications such as geomorphology and geology.

Conclusion. At the scale of the radar resolution, topography may have a pronounced as the effect on image brightness, terrain that slopes toward the imaging sensor appears bright and spatially compressed relative to terrain that slopes away, which appears dark and spatially expanded. In addition to topographic or surfaceroughness effects, the intrinsic reflectivity properties of the surface can have a major influence on image in enhance radar backscatter. References: 1. Lecture Notes 9 Factors Impact SAR Backscatter, Assoc Prof Dr. Maged Marghany. 2. http://history.nasa.gov/JPL-9324/ch2.htm, Brightness. 3. http://envisat.esa.int/handbooks/asar/ CNTR5-5.htm, Glossary. 4. Lecture Notes 4 Geometry and Spatial Resolution, En.Samsudin Ahmad. Geometry Chapter 5, Image

Figure 3

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