Ground-Truth Observations of Ice-Covered North Slope Lakes Imaged by Radar

Field observations support the interpretation that differences in the strength of radar returns from the ice covers of lakes on the North Slope of Alaska can be used to determine where the lake is frozen completely to the bottom. An ice/frozen soil interface is indicated by a weak return and an ice/...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Weeks, W. F., Gow, A. J., Schertler, R. J.
Other Authors: COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER NH
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1981
Subjects:
Hydrology
Limnology and Potamology
Snow
Ice and Permafrost
Active & Passive Radar Detection & Equipment
Radiofrequency Wave Propagation
*LAKES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
ALASKA
BATHYMETRY
SIDE LOOKING RADAR
RADAR REFLECTIONS
NORTH(DIRECTION)
SURFACE TRUTH
AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE
ICE
LAKE ICE
NORTH SLOPE(ALASKA)
Ice
north slope
permafrost
Alaska
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA108342
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA108342
Description
Summary:Field observations support the interpretation that differences in the strength of radar returns from the ice covers of lakes on the North Slope of Alaska can be used to determine where the lake is frozen completely to the bottom. An ice/frozen soil interface is indicated by a weak return and an ice/ water interface by a strong return. The immediate value of this result is that SLAR (side-looking airborne radar) imagery can now be used to prepare maps of large areas of the North Slope showing where the lakes are shallower or deeper than 1.7m (the approximate draft of the lake ice at the time of the SLAR flights). The bathymetry of these shallow lakes is largely unknown and is not obvious from their sizes or outlines. Such information could be very useful, for example in finding suitable year-round water supplies.

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