Multifrequency Microwave Backscatter From a Highly Saline Snow Cover on Smooth First-Year Sea Ice: First-Order Theoretical Modeling

A theoretical understanding of a multifrequency microwave approach to understand complex microwave interactions from a highly saline snow cover on a relatively smooth first-year sea ice is presented. We examine the sensitivity of Ku-, X-, and C-band σ VV 0 and σ HH 0 to variability in snow geophysic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on geoscience and remote sensing 2017-04, Vol.55 (4), p.2177-2190
Main Authors: Nandan, Vishnu, Geldsetzer, Torsten, Yackel, John J., Islam, Tanvir, Gill, Jagvijay P. S., Mahmud, Mallik
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Active microwaves
Algorithms
Backscatter
Backscattering
C band
Dielectric loss
Geophysics
Grain
Ice cover
Mathematical models
Microwave FET integrated circuits
Microwave integrated circuits
Microwave radiation
Modelling
multifrequency
Ocean temperature
Penetration depth
Remote sensing
Salinity
Salinity effects
Satellite sensing
Scattering
Sea ice
Sensitivity analysis
Snow
Snow cover
Snowpack
Surface water
Theories
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Summary:A theoretical understanding of a multifrequency microwave approach to understand complex microwave interactions from a highly saline snow cover on a relatively smooth first-year sea ice is presented. We examine the sensitivity of Ku-, X-, and C-band σ VV 0 and σ HH 0 to variability in snow geophysical properties such as salinity, density, temperature, and snow grain radius, sampled from a highly saline snow cover on first-year sea ice. A first-order multilayer snow and ice backscatter model is used to calculate σ VV 0 and σ HH 0 by taking into account the surface and volume scattering contributions within each snow layer of the snow pack. Penetration depth models are used to calculate the potential penetration of all three frequencies, at initial and perturbed snow property conditions. Sensitivity analyses suggest that variability in salinity and snow grain radius have the greatest effect, followed by density and temperature. This phenomenon is observed for all three frequencies, influencing microwave penetration and backscatter. Dielectric loss associated with highly saline snow covers and substantial changes in scattering contributions from snow grain radius perturbations were found to be the dominant factors affecting microwave penetration and backscatter. Results from this paper demonstrate the potential of using a multifrequency theoretical approach to correlate with active microwave observations to determine the geophysical and electrical state of snow/sea ice system. The paper also represents an evolution in a theoretical understanding on how an active microwave approach using multiple frequencies can be further utilized toward the development of snow thickness and/or snow water equivalent algorithm on smooth FYI.
ISSN:0196-2892
1558-0644
DOI:10.1109/TGRS.2016.2638323