Polarimetric Classification of Trees

Radar Polarimetry is now indispensable tool for monitoring the earth cover. The advantage of using vector nature of electromagnetic wave is the abundant information on amplitude, phase and the relation pertaining to target. In this paper, we tried to retrieve useful index for classifying trees, forests, vegetations. The index is used polarimetric correlation coefficient derived by the elements of Sinclair scattering matrix. It is shown that correlation coefficient defined by the circular polarization basis serves to distinguish conifer tree and broadleaf tree