Dual Frequency Radar Ice and Snow Signatures
Abstract Dual frequency (X-band and L-band) synthetic-aperture radar imagery of sea ice is examined to show the differences between the bands and their complementary nature for resolving ambiguities in interpretation. High backscatter at X-band from visibly smooth thin ice is not observed at L-band....
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1983
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000008340 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000008340 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0022143000008340 2024-03-03T08:46:03+00:00 Dual Frequency Radar Ice and Snow Signatures Ketchum, R. D. 1983 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000008340 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000008340 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) Journal of Glaciology volume 29, issue 102, page 286-295 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 Earth-Surface Processes journal-article 1983 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000008340 2024-02-08T08:34:04Z Abstract Dual frequency (X-band and L-band) synthetic-aperture radar imagery of sea ice is examined to show the differences between the bands and their complementary nature for resolving ambiguities in interpretation. High backscatter at X-band from visibly smooth thin ice is not observed at L-band. One hypothesis is that the high X-band backscatter may be caused by a reflective layer at the snow/ice interface. A second hypothesis is that the high X-band backscatter may be caused by moisture in the snow. A third hypothesis states that the phenomenon may be due to snow flowers. High backscatter at L-band is observed for slush on open water. The return is very weak at X-band, thus allowing distinction of slush by comparing L-band and X-band images. High intensity, but only partial returns from icebergs at L-band have been observed. The hypothesis is that internal iceberg/sea-water reflections are occurring. Some signals are directed away from the antenna, other reinforced signals are returned, producing very bright images. Occasionally, time-delayed signals are returned causing a false image at far range from the iceberg. The conclusion is that L-band is a poor choice for studies of iceberg distribution and size, but a good choice for iceberg detection because of the high reinforced returns from many icebergs and the low return from the adjacent sea ice. The penetration and subsequent signal loss of L-band in glacial ice, when compared to high X-band returns, may be useful to map glacierized land masses. Article in Journal/Newspaper Journal of Glaciology Sea ice Cambridge University Press Journal of Glaciology 29 102 286 295 |
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Open Polar |
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Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
Earth-Surface Processes |
spellingShingle |
Earth-Surface Processes Ketchum, R. D. Dual Frequency Radar Ice and Snow Signatures |
topic_facet |
Earth-Surface Processes |
description |
Abstract Dual frequency (X-band and L-band) synthetic-aperture radar imagery of sea ice is examined to show the differences between the bands and their complementary nature for resolving ambiguities in interpretation. High backscatter at X-band from visibly smooth thin ice is not observed at L-band. One hypothesis is that the high X-band backscatter may be caused by a reflective layer at the snow/ice interface. A second hypothesis is that the high X-band backscatter may be caused by moisture in the snow. A third hypothesis states that the phenomenon may be due to snow flowers. High backscatter at L-band is observed for slush on open water. The return is very weak at X-band, thus allowing distinction of slush by comparing L-band and X-band images. High intensity, but only partial returns from icebergs at L-band have been observed. The hypothesis is that internal iceberg/sea-water reflections are occurring. Some signals are directed away from the antenna, other reinforced signals are returned, producing very bright images. Occasionally, time-delayed signals are returned causing a false image at far range from the iceberg. The conclusion is that L-band is a poor choice for studies of iceberg distribution and size, but a good choice for iceberg detection because of the high reinforced returns from many icebergs and the low return from the adjacent sea ice. The penetration and subsequent signal loss of L-band in glacial ice, when compared to high X-band returns, may be useful to map glacierized land masses. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ketchum, R. D. |
author_facet |
Ketchum, R. D. |
author_sort |
Ketchum, R. D. |
title |
Dual Frequency Radar Ice and Snow Signatures |
title_short |
Dual Frequency Radar Ice and Snow Signatures |
title_full |
Dual Frequency Radar Ice and Snow Signatures |
title_fullStr |
Dual Frequency Radar Ice and Snow Signatures |
title_full_unstemmed |
Dual Frequency Radar Ice and Snow Signatures |
title_sort |
dual frequency radar ice and snow signatures |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
1983 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000008340 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000008340 |
genre |
Journal of Glaciology Sea ice |
genre_facet |
Journal of Glaciology Sea ice |
op_source |
Journal of Glaciology volume 29, issue 102, page 286-295 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000008340 |
container_title |
Journal of Glaciology |
container_volume |
29 |
container_issue |
102 |
container_start_page |
286 |
op_container_end_page |
295 |
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1792501889316683776 |