Combining TerraSAR-X and time-lapse photography for seasonal sea ice monitoring: the case of Deception Bay, Nunavik

• Published in: The Cryosphere
• Main Authors: S. Dufour-Beauséjour, A. Wendleder, Y. Gauthier, M. Bernier, J. Poulin, V. Gilbert, J. Tuniq, A. Rouleau, A. Roth
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2020
• Subjects: Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Geology; QE1-996.5; Nunavik; inuit; Sea ice; The Cryosphere
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1595-2020; https://doaj.org/article/e012cd465a544207bcea05462daf2d78

This article presents a case study for the combined use of TerraSAR-X and time-lapse photography time series in order to monitor seasonal sea ice processes in Nunavik's Deception Bay. This area is at the confluence of land use by local Inuit, ice-breaking transport by the mining industry, and climate change. Indeed, Inuit have reported greater interannual variability in seasonal sea ice conditions, including later freeze-up and earlier breakup. Time series covering 2015 to 2018 were acquired for each data source: TerraSAR-X images were acquired every 11 d, and photographs were acquired hourly during the day. We used the combination of the two time series to document spatiotemporal aspects of freeze-up and breakup processes. We also report new X-band backscattering values over newly formed sea ice types. The TerraSAR-X time series further show potential for melt and pond onset.