Show simple item record

dc.contributor.authorde Rijke Thomas, Claude
dc.contributor.authorLandy, Jack Christopher
dc.contributor.authorMallett, Robbie
dc.contributor.authorWillatt, Rosemary
dc.contributor.authorTsamados, Michel
dc.contributor.authorKing, Joshua
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-23T11:45:55Z
dc.date.available2024-02-23T11:45:55Z
dc.date.issued2023-09-22
dc.description.abstractSurface-based Ku-band radar altimetry investigations indicate that the radar signal is typically backscattered from well above the snow–sea ice interface. However, this would induce a bias in satellite altimeter sea ice thickness retrievals not reflected by buoy validation. Our study presents a mechanism to potentially explain this paradox: probabilistic quasi-specular radar scattering from the snow–ice interface. We introduce the theory for this mechanism before identifying it in airborne Ku-band radar observations collected over landfast first-year Arctic sea ice near Eureka, Canada, in spring 2016. Based on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, this study area likely represents the level first-year sea ice across the Arctic. Radar backscatter from the snow and ice interfaces was estimated by coaligning laser scanner and radar observations with in situ measurements. On average, four to five times more radar power was scattered from the snow–ice interface than the air–snow interface over first-year ice. However, return power varied by up to 20 dB between consecutive radar echoes, particularly from the snow–ice interface, depending on local slope and roughness. Measured laser-radar snow depths were more accurate when radar returns were specular, but there was no systematic bias between airborne and in situ snow depths. The probability and strength of quasi-specular returns depend on the measuring height above and slope distribution of sea ice, so these findings have implications for satellite altimetry snow depth and freeboard estimates. This mechanism could explain the apparent differences in Ku-band radar penetration into snow on sea ice when observed from the range of a surface-, airborne-, or satellite-based sensor.en_US
dc.identifier.citationde Rijke Thomas, Landy, Mallett, Willatt, Tsamados, King. Airborne Investigation of Quasi-Specular Ku-Band Radar Scattering for Satellite Altimetry Over Snow-Covered Arctic Sea Ice. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing. 2023;61en_US
dc.identifier.cristinIDFRIDAID 2181438
dc.identifier.doi10.1109/TGRS.2023.3318263
dc.identifier.issn0196-2892
dc.identifier.issn1558-0644
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10037/33028
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherIEEEen_US
dc.relation.journalIEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing
dc.relation.projectIDNorges forskningsråd: 328957en_US
dc.relation.projectIDNorges forskningsråd: 237906en_US
dc.rights.accessRightsopenAccessen_US
dc.rights.holderCopyright 2023 The Author(s)en_US
dc.titleAirborne Investigation of Quasi-Specular Ku-Band Radar Scattering for Satellite Altimetry Over Snow-Covered Arctic Sea Iceen_US
dc.type.versionacceptedVersionen_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.typeTidsskriftartikkelen_US
dc.typePeer revieweden_US


File(s) in this item

Thumbnail

This item appears in the following collection(s)

Show simple item record