Abstract:Using the Wishart joint distribution of the scattering amplitude functions, the probability density functions (PDF’s) of four Stokes parameters for multilook polarimetric SAR data are derived. The PDF’s are formulated analytically with dependence upon the look number and mean values of the Stokes parameters, and are compared with the results by R. Touzi and A. Lopes (1996). The statistic histograms of four Stokes parameters are validated by the AirSAR imagery at multi-P, L, C bands observed over some typical sites such as water, sparse trees and forest. An effective look-number might be especially assigned to have excellent matching with the AirSAR data. Potential application of the statistics of four Stokes parameters to classification of the terrain types is studied.