Faraday Rotation Detection and Correction for Dual-polarization (hh-hv) L-band Data

L-Band SAR, like that on the JAXA’s ALOS PALSAR instrument, is much more susceptible to ionospheric effects than other space based SAR missions, mainly operating in C-band or X-Band. While single-band attenuation of instruments such as the single-polarization JERS-1 SAR instrument certainly occurred, it was rarely noted. With the advent of fulland dual-polarization (full-pol and dual-pol) instruments, where channel ratios and phase differences are used for different applications, the ability to screen for, and ultimately correct for, Faraday rotation becomes especially important.