Analysis of Multiple-Angle Microwave Observations of Snow and Ice Using Cluster-Analysis Techniques

Abstract The Nimbus-6 satellite carries the Scanning Microwave Spectrometer experiment (SCAMS) which continuously maps the Earth’s surface at two frequencies (22.235 and 31.65 GHz) and at six angles besides nadir. Cluster analysis was applied to these observations to determine the influence of vario...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Glaciology
Main Authors: Rotman, Stanley R., Fisher, Arthur D., Staelin, David H.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1981
Subjects:
Earth-Surface Processes
Journal of Glaciology
Sea ice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000011254
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000011254
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Summary:Abstract The Nimbus-6 satellite carries the Scanning Microwave Spectrometer experiment (SCAMS) which continuously maps the Earth’s surface at two frequencies (22.235 and 31.65 GHz) and at six angles besides nadir. Cluster analysis was applied to these observations to determine the influence of various geophysical parameters on the radiometric brightness temperatures. Characteristic microwave signatures for a variety of terrain were obtained by this method; discrete clusters were distinguished for sea ice (with sub-classes for ice age and fractional ice cover) and firn (with accumulation-rate sub-classes). The availability of the angular data greatly facilitated separate determinations of the extent of continuous sea ice and mixtures of sea ice and water.

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