Backscattering signatures at Ka, Ku, C and S bands from low resolution radar altimetry over land

Radar backscattering coefficients from synthetic aperture radars and scatterometers are commonly used to characterize the land surface properties monitor their temporal evolution. altimetry is mostly used, over land, provide time series of water stage lakes, rivers wetlands topography ice sheets. Very few studies radar for geophysical applications except determine changes in Arctic lakes state surface, soil moisture semi-arid environments or flood extent at high latitude. As missions acquired data four frequency bands (mostly C Ku but also S Ka), this study proposes first thorough analysis signatures surfaces using observations ERS-2, Jason-1, ENVISAT, Jason-2 SARAL The spatial variations several altimetric information (backscattering coefficient, waveform peakiness, leading edge width trailing slope) examined global scale, each band separately, as well differences. Their relationship with related characteristics (i.e., type, moisture, presence snow) evidenced. Finally, patterns computed selected regions, representative major bioclimatic areas, changes.