Asar Multitemporal and Dual Polarization Observations of Wedland Marshes

Wetlands are areas where the frequent and prolonged presence of water at or near the soil surface drives the natural system. Next to Buenos Aires, the Lower Delta islands of the Paraná River constitute a fresh water wetland characterized by a complex mosaic of natural and man made ecosystems and a hydrologic regime defined by the Paraná and De la Plata rivers. The ENVISAT ASAR data recently obtained over this area supports previous observations acquired by two different systems ERS 2 and RADARSAT, but with the great advantage of obtaining simultaneous HH-VV data (same environmental conditions), what ensures a consistent interpretation. The data set presented here consists of several dual polarization images, acquired under different hydrologic conditions showing how the dominant soil-vegetation-radar interactions are being modified influenced by soil status, and how the magnitude of this change depends on vegetation structure and polarization. Interpretation of observations is supported by electromagnetic modeling.