Large-scale statistical study of Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) data over Antarctica
Abstract SMMR data over Antarctica have been statistically analysed for four different periods of 1 year (1981) and compared to geophysical data such as surface temperature, snow-accumulation rate and topography. The spatial variations of the microwave signature are stable with time. Although the te...
| Published in: | Journal of Glaciology |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1991
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s002214300004288x https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S002214300004288X |
| Summary: | Abstract SMMR data over Antarctica have been statistically analysed for four different periods of 1 year (1981) and compared to geophysical data such as surface temperature, snow-accumulation rate and topography. The spatial variations of the microwave signature are stable with time. Although the ten channels are highly correlated, principal-component analysis reveals the importance of polarization and frequency. The difference between brightness temperatures at the two polarizations is found to be dependent on the atmospheric water-vapour fluxes over the ice sheet, which modify the temperature-accumulation ratio and therefore the snow stratification. The brightness-temperature gradient with frequency is related to the topography of the central plateau area. A more important subsidence over diverging areas could explain the different structure of the accumulated snow. |
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