On the shape of reflecting surfaces investigated by a 60 MHz radar

• Published in: International Journal of Remote Sensing
• Main Authors: Bianchi, C., Sciacca, U., Tabacco, I. E., Zirizzotti, A., Zuccheretti, E.
• Other Authors: Bianchi, C.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Sciacca, U.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia, Tabacco, I. E.; Universita` di Milano — Sezione Geofisica, Milan, Italy, Zirizzotti, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Zuccheretti, E.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia, Universita` di Milano — Sezione Geofisica, Milan, Italy
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2003
• Subjects: radar; ice tongues; airborne instrument; 01. Atmosphere::01.01. Atmosphere::01.01.08. Instruments and techniques; 02. Cryosphere::02.02. Glaciers::02.02.04. Ice; 02. Cryosphere::02.02. Glaciers::02.02.06. Mass balance; 02. Cryosphere::02.02. Glaciers::02.02.10. Instruments and techniques; 02. Cryosphere::02.04. Sea ice::02.04.04. Instruments and techniques; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2122/3573; https://doi.org/10.1080/0143116031000070300

Radio echo sounding (RES) systems for ice thickness measurements are practically the only suitable equipment for large-scale radar flight surveys in polar regions. The length of the radio wave carrier does not allow the employment of sophisticated antennas, so folded dipoles are used, arranged beneath the wings. As a consequence, the transmitted radio wave beam illuminates a relatively large area, making the power of the echo signal related in a significant way to the shape of the reflecting surfaces. An electromagnetic analysis shows that the amplitude variations detected by the system, under certain conditions, are mainly due to focusing or defocusing effects determined by the shape of the reflectors. Published 3049-3058 1.8. Osservazioni di geofisica ambientale JCR Journal reserved