Passive Microwave Signatures of Fractures and Ridges in Sea Ice at 33.6 GHz (Vertical Polarization) as Observed in Aircraft Images

• Main Authors: Farmer, L. D., Eppler, Duane T., Lohanick, Alan
• Other Authors: NAVAL RESEARCH LAB STENNIS SPACE CENTER MS
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1993
• Subjects: Snow; Ice and Permafrost; Optics; *OPTICAL DETECTION; *ICE MECHANICS; *SEA ICE; TEMPERATURE; POLARIZATION; DEFORMATION; FRACTURE(MECHANICS); SNOW COVER; PRESSURE; SIGNATURES; ICE BREAKUP; K BAND; BEAUFORT SEA; RIDGES; RADIOMETRY; REMOTE DETECTION; AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS; WIDTH; CLASSIFICATION; ICE; BRIGHTNESS; MICROWAVES; THESES; CONTRAST; DETECTION; PE61153N; WUDN256025; REMOTE SENSING; Beaufort Sea; Chukchi; Ice; permafrost; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA268362; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA268362

An aircraft data set of coincident K sub a band (33 GHz, vertical polarization) passive microwave images and aerial photographs acquired in the Chukchi-Beaufort Sea region in March 1983 was analyzed to evaluate radiometric signatures of deformational features that occur in sea ice. A total of 115 fractures and 197 pressure ridges were examined with respect to physical appearance (relative age, snow cover, ice type, width, orientation) as observed in photographs, and radiometric character (brightness temperature, radiometric contrast with respect to adjacent ice, radiometric profile across the feature) as measured from digital passive microwave images. Of the deformational features that were observed in aerial photographs, 82%. had radiometric signatures of sufficient contrast to be observed in passive microwave images. Fractures and ridges have equal chance of detection, but fractures cannot be distinguished from pressure ridges on the basis of brightness temperature, radiometric contrast, or characteristics of radiometric profiles measured across these features. Sea ice classification, Passive microwave, Remote sensing.