A scatter model for leafy vegetation

A model for vegetation scatter was developed, using the first order renormalization method. The vegetated medium was taken to be an inhomogeneous medium characterized by a random permittivity function with a cylindrically symmetric, fast decaying correlation function. The permittivity of the vegetation (taken to be a combination of water and some solid material) was estimated by mixing formula after de Loor (1968) and the permittivity of the vegetated medium (taken to be a combination of vegetation and air) was estimated. The backscattering coefficient from such a model was computed as a function of the incidence angle, frequency, and the moisture content of the vegetation. Comparisons were made with measured data from soybeans, alfalfa, and corn.