An evaluation of SeaWinds/QuikSCAT data for the estimation of the decay status of first-year sea ice

This analysis evaluates the temporal evolution of the microwave backscatter coefficient (sigmadeg) and VV/HH sigmadeg co-polarization ratio from Qscat for estimating sea ice thermodynamics. Qscat sigmadeg were compared against RADARSAT-1 SAR sigmadeg and in situ data from the Collaborative Interdisc...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Howell, S.E.L., Yackel, J.J., De Abreu, R.A., Galdsetzer, T., Breneman, C.
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied geophysics
Backscatter
Collaboration
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Internal geophysics
Marine geology
Polarization
Radar detection
Radar scattering
Remote sensing
Sea ice
Snow
State estimation
Thermodynamics
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Summary:This analysis evaluates the temporal evolution of the microwave backscatter coefficient (sigmadeg) and VV/HH sigmadeg co-polarization ratio from Qscat for estimating sea ice thermodynamics. Qscat sigmadeg were compared against RADARSAT-1 SAR sigmadeg and in situ data from the Collaborative Interdisciplinary Cryospheric Experiment (C-ICE) for 2000, 2001, and 2002 were used as validation. Results indicate that the temporal evolution of sigmadeg from Qscat is analogous to RADARSAT-1. The Qscat sigmadeg temporal evolution has the ability to identify Winter, Snow Melt, and Ponding thermodynamic states. Moreover, the co-polarization VV/HH ratio of Qscat provides a more robust estimate of the Ponding state and identifies the Drainage state that is difficult to detect by single polarization SAR
DOI:10.1109/IGARSS.2004.1370785