Patent · US Expired

Remote sensing of vegetation and soil using microwave ellipsometry

US4052666A · kind A · utility

28Cited by

7References

2Claims

0Family size

Inventors

James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Fletcher
Siegfried O. Auer · Bowie, US
John B. Schutt · Silver Spring, US

Key dates

Filing date	Apr 15, 1976
Grant date	Oct 4, 1977
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Apr 15, 1996

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG01V3/12
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of determining vegetation height and water content of vegetation from the intensity and state of elliptical polarization of a reflected train of microwaves. The method comprises the steps of reflecting a circularly polarized train of microwaves from vegetation at a predetermined angle of incidence, detecting the reflected train of microwaves, determining the ratio of the intensities of the electric field vector components, measuring the phase difference of the components, and computing the refractive index and thickness of the layer of vegetation from a formula, wherein the refractive index is given essentially by the water content of the vegetation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.