7.3.4 Radiometric Balancing

Radiometric balancing includes correction for a number of radiometric effects in radar imagery, including: antenna pattern, range (R3) fall-off, and systematic backscatter variation due to target distribution within an image.

Two versions of the right hand image (S1) are shown for comparison. The first S1 image is in its raw form, showing radiometric variability across the image. This variability is likely due to incomplete compensation for range-related variation in backscatter. A radiometric balancing correction has been applied to generate the second S1 image. It has also been rescaled to the image dimensions of the left-hand (S7) image.

This image pair is difficult to view in stereo. The processed S1 image improves stereo viewability of the image pair. In spite of the applied radiometric balancing and the rescaling, stereo can be viewed in local areas only. Manual rotation is necessary to capture approximately a quarter of a stereo-model at a time.

These images show a medium contrast between topographic features. Forest clear cuts are clearly visible, especially on the S7 image. Topographic features are much more pronounced on the S1 image. Foreshortening effects are also more apparent on the S1 image.