PRINCIPLES OF INTERFEROMETRIC AND POLARIMETRIC RADIOMETRY

An overview of increasingly indispensable radiometric technologies Microwave radiometers have become a central part of Earth observation and radioastronomy. Most existing reference works on the subject, however, largely omit two key types of radiometers: interferometric radiometers and polarimetric radiometers. The extensive applications of these two classes of radiometer and their potential for mapping distant celestial bodies and enhancing Earth observation has made it critical for the next generation of radiometric scientists and engineers to be familiar with this technology and its principles. Principles of Interferometric and Polarimetric Radiometry meets this crucial need with a first-in-class overview of this key subject. Beginning with an introduction to the foundational concepts of microwave radiometry, it proceeds to work through a careful revision of the field’s major theory and techniques, with a particular emphasis on interferometric and polarimetric systems. The result promises to revolutionize the use of microwave passive sensors for Earth observation and beyond.