Prediction of Wave Attenuation from a Conifer Forest – 3-D Vector Transport Theory

The objective of this paper is to use the ground measurements of tree biophysical parameters in conjunction with the exact 3D vector radiative transport theory to compute the attenuation of a propagating wave going through the canopy of a forest of coniferous trees. The ground measurements of trees were taken in a NASA site at a Natural Virginia pine forest at Goddard Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory. The canopy parameters were obtained from destructive sampling. The electrical characteristics of the branches and needles were measured. The exact 3-D vector radiative transport theory has been developed to compute the attenuation produced by a pine forest containing random located branches and needles. The branches and the needles are modeled as lossy-dielectric cylinders with prescribed orientation statistics. Results will show the importance of knowing the electrical and biophysical parameters of the forest to be able to predict with more certainty the attenuation of a coniferous forest.