Journal Paper

This paper proposes a novel method aimed at modeling microwave scattering and absorption inside a canopy, arising from the interaction with the individual components of the vegetation specimen, starting from primary models for leaves, trunk and branches. The method is based on the Finite-Difference Time-Domain ( extit{FDTD}) technique to predict the mbox{3-dimensional} mbox{re-radiation} fields of the entire tree, by combining the effects of the single elements forming the tree. Appropriate measurements performed in an anechoic chamber environment at microwave frequencies, extit{i.e.} 20 GHz, and in the forward scattering region, provided both model validation and a deeper insight into the problem. The model is shown to be capable of predicting the near-field radiated signal and the radar cross section (RCS). The predictions yielded good agreement with measurements and provides a good basis for a planning model capable of accounting for single trees in the radio path.