Estimating a Volumetric Backscatter Coefficient from Measurements on the Greenland Ice Sheet

• Main Authors: J. Munkl, K. Jezek, F. Baumgartner, S. P. Gogineni, R. R. Forster, H. H. Zabe
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Greenland; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.65.6547; http://www.ittc.ku.edu/publications/documents/Munk2000_IGARSS2000-3.pdf

Abstract — We obtained in-situ radar backscatter data at several sites on the Greenland Ice Sheet to better relate scattering signatures to flrn physical properties. Backscatter measurements were made using an ultra-wide band radar system (,5-18 GHz) for incidence angles between O and 50 degrees, with respect to the snow surface. For large angles of incidence (> 25°) the measured backscatter is dominated by volumetric scattering, as opposed to surface and specular backscatter occurring at near normal incidence. Using the data we present a method for estimating the volumetric backscatter coefficient as a function of depth in flrn. Results show trends consistent with both seasonal variations and long-term grain growth, which is primarily influenced by the accumulation rate I.