Radar Image Distortions
Slant-range scale distortion
Relief displacement
Foreshortening
layover
Meterial Prepared by Prof. Fumio Yamazaki for
Principles of Remote Sensing 2002
Slant-range scale distortion
Slant-range scale distortion occurs because the radar is
measuring the distance to features in slant-range rather than the
true horizontal distance along the ground.
This results in a varying image scale, moving from near to far
range. Although targets A1 and B1 are the same size on the ground,
their apparent dimensions in slant range (A2 and B2) are different.
This causes targets in the near range
to appear compressed relative to the far
range. Using trigonometry, ground-range
distance can be calculated from the
slant-range distance and platform
altitude to convert to the proper groundrange format.
Meterial Prepared by Prof. Fumio Yamazaki for
Principles of Remote Sensing 2002
Conversion comparison
A radar image in slant-range display (top) where the fields and
the road in the near range on the left side of the image are
compressed.
The same image converted to ground-range display (bottom)
with the features in their proper geometric shape.
Meterial Prepared by Prof. Fumio Yamazaki for
Principles of Remote Sensing 2002
Relief Displacement
Similar to the distortions encountered when using cameras and
scanners, radar images are also subject to geometric distortions due
to relief displacement.
As with scanner imagery, this displacement is 1D and occurs
perpendicular to the flight path. However, the displacement is
reversed with targets being displaced towards the sensor. Radar
foreshortening and layover are two consequences which result
from relief displacement.
Meterial Prepared by Prof. Fumio Yamazaki for
Principles of Remote Sensing 2002
Foreshortening (1)
When the radar beam reaches the base
of a tall feature tilted towards the
radar, before it reaches the top
foreshortening will occur. The slope
(A to B) will appear compressed and
the length of the slope will be
represented incorrectly (A' to B').
Depending on the angle of the hillside or mountain slope in
relation to the incidence angle of the radar beam, the severity of
foreshortening will vary.
Maximum foreshortening occurs when the radar beam is
perpendicular to the slope such that the slope, the base, and the top
are imaged simultaneously (C to D). The length of the slope will be
reduced to an effectiveMeterial
length
of zero in slant range (C'D').
Prepared by Prof. Fumio Yamazaki for
8
Principles of Remote Sensing 2002
Foreshortening (2)
A radar image of steep mountainous terrain with severe
foreshortening effects. The foreshortened slopes appear as bright
features on the image.
Meterial Prepared by Prof. Fumio Yamazaki for
Principles of Remote Sensing 2002
Layover
Layover occurs when the radar beam
reaches the top of a tall feature (B) before
it reaches the base (A). The return signal
from the top of the feature will be received
before the signal from the bottom. As a
result, the top of the feature is displaced
towards the radar from its true position
on the ground, and "lays over" the base of
the feature (B' to A').
Layover effects on a radar image look very
similar to effects due to foreshortening.
Layover is most severe for small incidence
angles and in mountainous terrain.
Meterial Prepared by Prof. Fumio Yamazaki for
Principles of Remote Sensing 2002
10
Radar Shadow
Both foreshortening and layover result in
radar shadow, which occurs when the
radar beam is not able to illuminate the
ground surface. Shadows occur towards
the far range, behind vertical features or
slopes with steep sides.
Since the radar beam does not illuminate
the surface, shadowed regions will appear
dark on an image. As incidence angle
increases from near to far range, so will
shadow effects as the radar beam looks
more and more obliquely at the surface.
This image illustrates radar shadow effects
on the right side of the hillsides.
Meterial Prepared by Prof. Fumio Yamazaki for
Principles of Remote Sensing 2002
11
Radar illumination
Extreme Example of Layover in SAR imagery
