GNSS Transpolar Earth Reflectometry exploriNg system (G-TERN): Mission concept. ...

• Main Authors: Cardellach, E., Wickert, J., Baggen, R., Benito, J., Camps, A., Catarino, N., Chapron, B., Dielacher, A., Fabra, F., Flato, G., Fragner, H., Gabarr'o, C., Gommenginger, C., Haas, C., Healy, S., Hernandez-Pajares, M., Hoeg, P., Jäggi, Adrian, Kainulainen, J., Abbas Khan, S., Lemke, N.M.K., Li, W., Nghiem, S.V., Pierdicca, N., Portabella, M., Rautiainen, K., Rius, A., Sasgen, I., Semmling, M., Shum, C.K., Soulat, F., Steiner, A.K., Tailhades, S., Thomas, M., Vilaseca, R., Zuffada, C.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 2018
• Subjects: 520 Astronomy; Antarctic; Arctic; Antarc*; Climate change; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.7892/boris.113813; https://boris.unibe.ch/113813/

The global navigation satellite system (GNSS) Transpolar Earth Reflectometry exploriNg system (G-TERN) was proposed in response to ESA's Earth Explorer 9 revised call by a team of 33 multi-disciplinary scientists. The primary objective of the mission is to quantify at high spatio-temporal resolution crucial characteristics, processes and interactions between sea ice, and other Earth system components in order to advance the understanding and prediction of climate change and its impacts on the environment and society. The objective is articulated through three key questions. 1) In a rapidly changing Arctic regime and under the resilient Antarctic sea ice trend, how will highly dynamic forcings and couplings between the various components of the ocean, atmosphere, and cryosphere modify or influence the processes governing the characteristics of the sea ice cover (ice production, growth, deformation, and melt)? 2) What are the impacts of extreme events and feedback mechanisms on sea ice evolution? 3) What are ...