Physical properties of natural sea ice: implications for single- and multi-polarization SAR images

• Main Authors: Johnston, M., Sinha, N. K.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2001
• Subjects: Cornwallis; Cornwallis Island; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/accepted/?id=f6041325-4887-4784-aa03-30ff71a30994; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=f6041325-4887-4784-aa03-30ff71a30994; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=f6041325-4887-4784-aa03-30ff71a30994

This paper discusses the physical properties of naturally grown first-year sea ice and the implications that ice physical properties have for single- and multi-polarization SAR images. Temporally and spatially coincident images from the vertically polarized European Research Satellite (ERS-1) and the CCRS polarimetric airSAR are compared. Quantified from the two different SARs is the backscattering coefficient of three sample areas of first-year ice near Resolute, Cornwallis Island. The 46° to 52° span of incidence angles in the polarimetric airSAR produce much lower microwave returns than observed from the 23° incidence angle of the ERS-1 satellite. The direct influence that ice salinity, density and microstructure have upon the ice microwave scattering characteristics is quantified in terms of the backscattering coefficient. Peer reviewed: Yes NRC publication: Yes