Classification of Ice in Lützow-Holm Bay, East Antarctica, Using Data from ASCAT and AMSR2

This paper presents an ice classification algorithm based on combined active and passive microwave radiometer data in Lützow-Holm Bay (LHB), East Antarctica. The ice classification algorithm is developed based on the threshold values of an advanced scatterometer (ASCAT) and advanced microwave scanni...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Remote Sensing
Main Authors: Seita Hoshino, Kazutaka Tateyama, Koh Izumiyama
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020
Subjects:
sea ice
ice sheet
ice classification
satellite-based remote-sensing
Antarctic
Science
Q
East Antarctica
Lützow-Holm Bay
The Antarctic
Antarc*
Antarctica
Ice Sheet
Ice Shelf
Ice Shelves
Iceberg*
Sea ice
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12193179
https://doaj.org/article/5bb5e4c4b39743f88921b774488b8202
Description
Summary:This paper presents an ice classification algorithm based on combined active and passive microwave radiometer data in Lützow-Holm Bay (LHB), East Antarctica. The ice classification algorithm is developed based on the threshold values of an advanced scatterometer (ASCAT) and advanced microwave scanning radiometer 2 (here, AMSR2). These values are calculated via the features of various ice types, including open ice, first-year (FY) ice, multi-year (MY) ice, MY ice including icebergs (MY IB), ice shelves, coastal ice sheets, and inland ice sheets. To verify the validity of the ice classification algorithm, the algorithm results are compared with visual observation data and satellite imagery. Except for the flaw polynya and area with surface melting, the FY ice, MY ice, and the ice shelf areas estimated here using the proposed ice classification algorithm match those discernible from the verification data. Inter-annual changes in the areal extents of FY ice, MY ice, and the ice shelves are investigated here using the proposed ice classification algorithm. Investigation of MY ice and ice shelf areas revealed that the breakup of MY ice induced a breakup of an ice shelf. A comparison of the FY ice and MY ice areas showed the replacement of these ice types. The proposed ice classification algorithm can detect ice breakup events as quantitative changes in the distribution and ice type. In future work, we plan to classify sea ice in other sea ice areas, applying the proposed algorithm throughout the Antarctic region.

Similar Items