Soil Moisture Estimation
Radar is sensitive to variations in soil moisture because of the changes in the dielectric properties of soil produced by changes in water content. The sensitivity of radar to variations in moisture content potentially results in contrasting backscatter.

RADARSAT beam mode - Standard beam mode provides soil moisture information at the watershed level.

RADARSAT incidence angle - Soil and vegetation roughness effects, which are the dominant factors affecting radar backscatter, are minimized at steep angles. Steep incidence angles provide the greatest amount of signal penetration through a vegetation canopy and also maximize the contrast in backscatter received from variations in soil moisture.

Look direction - N/A

When to acquire RADARSAT data - Acquire data when other parameters that affect radar backscatter, such as vegetation cover, are minimized.