Importance of seasonal and annual layers in controlling backscatter to radar altimeters across the percolation zone of an ice sheet

Radar altimeters are one of the main tools for measuring elevation changes across the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets and larger ice caps. A ground‐based radar was deployed in autumn 2004 and spring 2006 in the percolation zone of the Greenland Ice Sheet. This radar is a high bandwidth system ope...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical research letters 2006-12, Vol.33 (24), p.np-n/a
Main Authors: Scott, Julian B. T., Nienow, Peter, Mair, Douglas, Parry, Victoria, Morris, Elizabeth, Wingham, Duncan J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Altimeters
Autumn
backscatter
Backscattering
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Elevation
Exact sciences and technology
Greenland
Ice sheets
Percolation
Radar
Springs (elastic)
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Summary:Radar altimeters are one of the main tools for measuring elevation changes across the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets and larger ice caps. A ground‐based radar was deployed in autumn 2004 and spring 2006 in the percolation zone of the Greenland Ice Sheet. This radar is a high bandwidth system operating in the Ku band, the same frequency as several satellite altimeters. Measurements were made over an elevation range of 1795 to 2350 m, along with snow pit and shallow core studies. These measurements demonstrate the spatial and temporal variations in the backscatter. Relative strengths of surface and volume reflections change dramatically between spring and autumn and there is also high spatial variability across the percolation zone. The extent of percolation will affect elevation estimates made by radar altimeters.
ISSN:0094-8276
1944-8007
DOI:10.1029/2006GL027974