Sea ice detection using GNSS‐R data from TechDemoSat‐1

• Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
• Main Authors: Cartwright, Jessica, Banks, Christopher J., Srokosz, Meric
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Arctic; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Climate change; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/434539/; https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/434539/1/Cartwright_et_al_2019_Journal_of_Geophysical_Research_Oceans.pdf

A new method for the detection of sea ice using GNSS‐R (Global Navigation Satellite Systems Reflectometry) is presented and applied to 33 months of data from the U.K. TechDemoSat‐1 mission. This method of sea ice detection shows the potential for a future GNSS‐R polar mission, attaining an agreement of over 98% and 96% in the Antarctic and Arctic, respectively, when compared to the European Space Agency's Climate Change Initiative sea ice concentration product. The algorithm uses a combination of two parameters derived from the delay‐Doppler Maps to quantify the spread of power in delay and Doppler. Application of thresholds then allows sea ice to be distinguished from open water. Differences between the TechDemoSat‐1 sea ice detection and comparison data sets are explored. The results provide information on the seasonal and multiyear changes in sea ice distribution of the Arctic and Antarctic. Future potential and applications of this technique are discussed.