Estimation of Size and Rotations of Icebergs from Historical Data Utilizing Scatterometer Data

• Main Author: Budge, Jeffrey Scott
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: BYU ScholarsArchive 2017
• Subjects: remote sensing; sea ice; OSCAT; ASCAT; iceberg; rotation; size; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Antarctic; Antarc*; Iceberg*; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/6843; https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/context/etd/article/7843/viewcontent/etd9380.pdf

In this thesis, the development and methodology of a new, consolidated BYU/NIC Antarctic Iceberg Tracking Database is presented. The new database combines data from the original BYU daily iceberg tracking database derived from scatterometers, and the National Ice Center's weekly Antarctic iceberg tracking database derived from mostly optical and infrared sensors. Using this data, interpolation methods and statistical analyses of iceberg locations are discussed. The intent of this database is to consolidate iceberg location data in order to increase accessibility to users.Active microwave remote sensing instruments are used to track tabular icebergs and provide a daily estimate of their positions and sizes. A consolidated data set of these positions from several different instruments is valuable to ensure accurate positional data. The scatterometer iceberg positional record began with the Seasat-A Satellite Scatterometer (SASS) and is continued with the Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) and Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) data sets.A reliable method of automatically estimating Antarctic iceberg contours and sizes from satellite data is desirable to help better understand patterns in iceberg formation and behavior. Starting from scatterometer images, this thesis develops a method of using the relatively constant backscatter values across the surface of an iceberg to derive a contour of its shape. Contours are then used to find an angle of rotation between images taken on successive days. This method produces size estimates that are within 10% of the area given by the National Ice Center (NIC). The size estimates and rotation angles are included in the new consolidated database.