Comparison of Sea-ice Type Identification Between Airborne Dual Frequency Passive Microwave Radiometry and Standard Laser/Infrared Techniques

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Tooma, S. G., Mennella, R. A., Hollinger, J. P., Ketchum, R. D.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1975
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Greenland; Scoresby; Journal of Glaciology; Scoresby Sound; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000034390; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000034390

Abstract During December 1973, the Naval Oceanographie Offirc (NAVOCKANO) and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) conducted a joint remote-sensing experiment over the sea-ice fields off Scoresby Sound on the east coast of Greenland using NAVOCEANO’s RP 3 -A Birdseye aircraft, laser profiler, and infrared scanner, and NRL’s 19.34 and 31.0 GHz nadir-looking radiometers. The objectives of this mission were: (1) to develop skills for interpreting sea-ice passive microwave data. (2) to expand, if possible, the two-category capability (multi-year ice and first-year ice) of passive microwave sensors over sea ice, (3) to compare two frequencies (19 and 31 GHz) to determine which may be more useful in a scanning radiometer now under development at NRL, and (4) to determine the value of multi-frequency as compared to single-frequency study of sea ice. Since, because of darkness and remoteness, no photography or in situ ground truth were possible for this mission, it was necessary to rely on the interpretations of the laser and infrared (IR) data to evaluate the performance of the microwave radiometers. Fortunately, excellent laser and IR data were collected, and a confident description of the ice overflown was possible. Five ice conditions: (1) open water/new ice, (2) smooth first-year ice, (3) ridged first-year ice, (4) multi-year ice, and (5) a higher brightness temperature form of multi-year ice interpreted as second-year ice were identifiable, regardless of weather conditions, by comparing the average of the two microwave brightness temperatures at the two frequencies with their difference.