A high temporal resolution data set of ERS scatterometer radar backscatter for research in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Authors: Sheng, Yongwei, Smith, Laurence C., Frey, Karen E., Alsdorf, Douglas E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2002
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Ecology; Geography, Planning and Development; Arctic; Polar Record; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400017502; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400017502

Abstract Radar backscatter in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions is temporally dynamic and reflects changes in sea ice, glacier facies, soil thaw state, vegetation cover, and moisture content. Wind scatterometers on the ERS-1 and ERS-2 satellites have amassed a global archive of C-band radar backscatter data since 1991. This paper derives three high temporal resolution data products from this archive that are designed to facilitate scatterometer research in high-latitude environments. Radar backscatter data have a grid spacing of 25 km and are mapped northwards from 60°N latitude over intervals of one, three, and seven days for the period 1991–2000. Data are corrected to a normalized incident angle of 40°. Animations and full-resolution data products are freely available for scientific use at http://merced.gis.ucla.edu/scatterometer/index.htm.