Satellite remote sensing of polar snow and ice: present status and future directions

Abstract Polar snow and ice masses exert a profound influence on global climate and ocean circulation, and are in turn influenced by climate. Satellite remote sensing constitutes the only practical and systematic means of gaining long-term overviews of any change or variability that may be occurring...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Record
Main Author: Massom, Robert
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1995
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400013607
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400013607
Description
Summary:Abstract Polar snow and ice masses exert a profound influence on global climate and ocean circulation, and are in turn influenced by climate. Satellite remote sensing constitutes the only practical and systematic means of gaining long-term overviews of any change or variability that may be occurring in key snow and ice parameters. Current relevant satellite sensors are reviewed and future developments evaluated to determine how these may lead to improved retrievals of the key parameters. Sensors to be launched on satellite platforms planned for the end of the century and beyond include both improved versions of existing sensors (such as MODIS) and new classes of sensors (such as imaging spectrometers and laser rangers/altimeters) applied to polar remote sensing for the first time.