@inproceedings{7995262bb36c4780a5958e65383443c3,
title = "Assessing Sub-Wavelength VHF Radar Scattering Losses in Dry Terrains: Application to Karst Environments",
abstract = "The identification and characterization of small-scale subsurface heterogeneities is crucial for fully understanding the total radar signal attenuation in complex and heterogeneous environments. In this study, we present a comparative analysis of the volumetric scattering effects of subsurface heterogeneities with sub-wavelength sizes (i.e. 1 mm to 2 cm) on VHF radar signals. In particular, we provide a first approximation of the scattering losses by using an analytical model considering randomly distributed vugs scatterers. We then compare our analysis with field radar measurements collected in the karst limestone aquiferous formation of Qatar at 80 MHz (10-dB Bandwidth: 30-150 MHz). Our results estimate that total losses in karstic environments range between 0.61 and 1.392 dB/m, of which 20 to 65\% is due to scattering. Furthermore, we find that despite being usually underestimated, sub-wavelength volumetric scattering accounts for a considerable portion of the overall radar attenuation: between 0.045 to 0.35 dB/m.",
keywords = "Groundwater, Karst, Limestone, Radar, Scattering",
author = "Giovanni Scabbia and Essam Heggy",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 IEEE.; 39th IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS 2019 ; Conference date: 28-07-2019 Through 02-08-2019",
year = "2019",
month = jul,
doi = "10.1109/IGARSS.2019.8899032",
language = "English",
series = "International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS)",
publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",
pages = "3538--3541",
booktitle = "2019 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS 2019 - Proceedings",
address = "United States",
}