Images Difference of ASAR Data for Rice Crop Mapping in Fuzhou, China

This paper introduces ENVISAT ASAR data application on rice field mapping in the Fuzhou area, using multi-temporal ASAR dual polarization data acquired in 2005. The procedure for ASAR data processing here includes data calibration, image registration, speckle reduction and conversion of data format from amplitude to dB for backscatter. The backscatter of rice increases with the rice growing stages, which was much different from other land covers. Based on image difference techniques, 6 schemes were designed with ASAR different temporal and polarization data for rice field mapping. Difference images between images in the early period of rice crop and growing or ripening period, are more suitable for rice extraction than those difference images between different polarizations in the same date. The most accurate result of late rice extraction was achieved based on the difference of HH polarization data acquired in October and August. Therefore, for rice field mapping, the temporal information is more important than polarization information. The data during the early growing season of rice is very important for high accuracy rice mapping.