Newly-formed sea ice distinction near the oil platform Prirazlomnaya in the Pechora Sea using polarimetric Radarsat-2 SAR observations

Abstract

A polarimetric approach developed to discriminate oil slicks and look-alikes was used to study the polarimetric properties of newly-formed ice (NFI) observed near the Prirazlomnaya oil platform. This approach is based on the multipolarization parameter called Resonant to Non-resonant signal Damping (RND), which is related to the ratio between the ice damping and the short wind waves and wave breakings. Fully-polarimetric Radarsat-2 images containing NFI were analyzed. The RND parameter indicates that in many cases the damping of the resonant and non-resonant electromagnetic signals in NFI is significantly different from oil slicks and that the RND parameter can distinguish them.