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Polarimetric synthetic aperture radar satellite and ground-based Ku- and X-band scatterometer measurements are used to explore the scattering mechanism for ice in shallow Arctic lakes, wherein strong radiometric responses are seen for floating ice, and low returns are evident where the ice has grounded. Scatterometer measurements confirm that high backscatter is from the ice/water interface, whereas polarimetric decomposition suggests that the dominant scattering mechanism from that interface is single bounce. Using Fresnel equations, a simple model for surface bounce from the ice/water interface is proposed, and its predictions are supported by experimental parameters such as co-pol phase difference, co-pol ratio, and the results of rigorous numerical modeling. Despite early research suggesting double-bounce scattering from columnar air bubbles and the ice/water interface as the dominant scattering mechanism in shallow lakes, this paper strongly supports a single-bounce model. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Microwave remote sensing has found numerous applications in areas affected by permafrost and seasonally frozen ground. In this study, we focused on data obtained by the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT, C-band) during winter periods when the ground is assumed to be frozen. This paper discusses the relationships of ASCAT backscatter with snow depth, air and ground temperature through correlations and the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to quantify influences on backscatter values during situations of frozen ground. We studied sites in Alaska, Northern Canada, Scandinavia and Siberia. Air temperature and snow depth data were obtained from 19 World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and 4 Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) stations. Ground temperature data were obtained from 36 boreholes through the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost Database (GTN-P) and additional records from central Yamal. Results suggest distinct differences between sites with and without underlying continuous permafrost. Sites characterized by high freezing indices (>4000 degree-days) have consistently stronger median correlations of ASCAT backscatter with ground temperature for all measurement depths. We show that the dynamics in winter-time backscatter cannot be solely explained through snow processes, but are also highly correlated with ground temperature up to a considerable depth (60 cm). These findings have important implications for both freeze/thaw and snow water equivalent retrieval algorithms based on C-band radar measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper an algorithm for ice/water classification of C- and L-band dual polarization synthetic aperture radar data is presented. A comparison of the two different frequencies is made in order to investigate the potential to improve classification results with multi-frequency data. The algorithm is based on backscatter intensities in co- and cross-polarization and autocorrelation as a texture feature. The mapping between image features and ice/water classification is made with a neural network. Accurate ice/water maps for both frequencies are produced by the algorithm and the results of two frequencies generally agree very well. Differences are found in the marginal ice zone, where the time difference between acquisitions causes motion of the ice pack. C-band reliably reproduces the outline of the ice edge, while L-band has its strengths for thin ice/calm water areas within the icepack. The classification shows good agreement with ice/water maps derived from met.no ice-charts and radiometer data from AMSR-2. Variations are found in the marginal ice zone where the generalization of the ice charts and lower accuracy of ice concentration from radiometer data introduce deviations. Usage of high-resolution dual frequency data could be beneficial for improving ice cover information for navigation and modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea ice topography information can be obtained from altimetry but these data are spatially and temporally limited compared to recent synthetic aperture radar (SAR) missions such as the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM). We analyze the relationship between sea ice roughness and height obtained from three Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat)‐2 tracks on two dates in March 2022, with RCM backscatter from 17 images in the McClintock Channel, Canadian Arctic. We analyze how this relationship varies with ice type, polarization, and incidence angle. We find particularly notable relationships between sea ice roughness and horizontal‐transmit/vertical‐receive backscatter for first‐year ice, and sea ice height and backscatter for multi‐year ice. We develop a preliminary model for winter sea ice roughness retrieval using RCM. In comparison with independent ICESat‐2 data in our study region, we find the model performs effectively at estimating a roughness distribution and key roughness statistics, and characterizes spatial variations in roughness at a sub‐kilometer scale. Plain Language Summary: Sea ice topography estimates are important for improving ocean‐climate models, understanding sea ice evolution, and planning ice travel. Estimates can be obtained from altimetry missions, but these data are spatially and/or temporally limited compared to recent synthetic aperture radar missions such as the C‐band RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM). By comparing RCM backscatter with measurements of height and roughness obtained using Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat)‐2 in the Canadian Arctic, we demonstrate the potential for using RCM to estimate sea ice topography. We show there is a notable relationship between sea ice roughness and backscatter on first‐year ice in late winter, particularly in the horizontal‐transmit/vertical‐receive channel, and a notable relationship between sea ice height and backscatter on multi‐year ice. We also observe that the relationship between the RCM signal and roughness varies with incidence angle. Based on this analysis we develop a preliminary model for winter sea ice roughness retrieval using RCM. In comparison with ICESat‐2 data, we find the model performs effectively at estimating key roughness statistics, and characterizes spatial variations in roughness at a sub‐kilometer scale. These findings will facilitate the use of RCM to validate geophysical models, map rough areas of ice, assess ice evolution and develop new topographic models. Key Points: Sea ice roughness measured by Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat)‐2 and horizontal‐transmit/vertical‐receive RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) backscatter exhibit a notable relationship on late‐winter first‐year iceSea ice height, as measured by ICESat‐2, and RCM backscatter exhibit a notable relationship on late‐winter multi‐year iceWe develop/validate a model, based on comparison with ICESat‐2 data, for estimating sea ice roughness using RCM backscatter in the Arctic [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term trends in Arctic sea ice are of particular interest in studies of global temperature, climate change, and industrial application. This paper analyzes intra-annual and interannual trends in Ku-band backscatter over first-year (FY) and multiyear (MY) sea ice to develop a new sea-ice-type classification method. Histograms of backscatter are derived from high-resolution backscatter images created using the scatterometer image reconstruction (SIR) algorithm applied to measurements obtained by the SeaWinds instrument aboard QuikSCAT. The backscatter of FY and MY sea ice are clearly identifiable and are observed to vary seasonally. Using an average of the annual backscatter trends obtained from QuikSCAT, a classification of MY ice is obtained, which uses a time-dependent threshold value. Validation of the classification method is done using regional ice charts from the Canadian Ice Service. Differences in ice classification are found to be less than 6\% for the winters of 2006–2007 and 2007–2008, and the end of 2008. Anomalies in the distribution of sea ice backscatter from year to year suggest a reduction in MY ice cover between 2003 and 2009 and an approximately equivalent increase in FY ice cover. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Rain-on-snow (ROS) events occur across many regions of the terrestrial Arctic in mid-winter. Snowpack properties are changing, and in extreme cases ice layers form which affect wildlife, vegetation and soils beyond the duration of the event. Specifically, satellite microwave observations have been shown to provide insight into known events. Only Ku-band radar (scatterometer) has been applied so far across the entire Arctic. Data availability at this frequency is limited, however. The utility of other frequencies from passive and active systems needs to be explored to develop a concept for long-term monitoring. The latter are of specific interest as they can be potentially provided at higher spatial resolution. Radar records have been shown to capture the associated snow structure change based on time-series analyses. This approach is also applicable when data gaps exist and has capabilities to evaluate the impact severity of events. Active as well as passive microwave sensors can also detect wet snow at the timing of an ROS event if an acquisition is available. The wet snow retrieval methodology is, however, rather mature compared to the identification of snow structure change since ambiguous scattering behaviour needs consideration. C-band radar is of special interest due to good data availability including a range of nominal spatial resolutions (10 m–12.5 km). Scatterometer and SAR (synthetic aperture radar) data have therefore been investigated. The temperature dependence of C-band backscatter at VV (V – vertical) polarization observable down to - 40 ∘ C is identified as a major issue for ROS retrieval but can be addressed by a combination with a passive microwave wet snow indicator (demonstrated for Metop ASCAT – Advanced Scatterometer – and SMOS – Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity). Results were compared to in situ observations (snowpit records, caribou migration data) and Ku-band products. Ice crusts were found in the snowpack after detected events (overall accuracy 82 %). The more crusts (events) there are, the higher the winter season backscatter increase at C-band will be. ROS events captured on the Yamal and Seward peninsulas have had severe impacts on reindeer and caribou, respectively, due to ice crust formation. SAR specifically from Sentinel-1 is promising regarding ice layer identification at better spatial details for all available polarizations. The fusion of multiple types of microwave satellite observations is suggested for the creation of a climate data record, but the consideration of performance differences due to spatial and temporal cover, as well as microwave frequency, is crucial. Retrieval is most robust in the tundra biome, where results are comparable between sensors. Records can be used to identify extremes and to apply the results for impact studies at regional scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polar sea ice is one of the Earth's climate components that has been significantly affected by the recent trend of global warming. While the sea ice area in the Arctic has been decreasing at a rate of about 4 % per decade, the multi-year ice (MYI), also called perennial ice, is decreasing at a faster rate of 10 %–15 % per decade. On the other hand, the sea ice area in the Antarctic region was slowly increasing at a rate of about 1.5 % per decade until 2014, and since then it has fluctuated without a clear trend. However, no data about ice type areas are available from that region, particularly for MYI. Due to differences in the physical and crystalline structural properties of sea ice and snow between the two polar regions, it has become difficult to identify ice types in the Antarctic. Until recently,no satellite retrieval scheme was ready to monitor the distribution and temporal development of Antarctic ice types, particularly MYI, throughout the freezing season and on timescales of several years. In this study, we have adapted a method for retrieving Arctic sea ice types and partial concentrations using microwave satellite observations to fit the Antarctic sea ice conditions. The core of the retrieval method is a mathematical scheme that needs empirical distributions of the microwave brightness temperature and backscatter input parameters for the different ice types. The first circumpolar, long-term time series of Antarctic sea ice types (MYI, first-year ice, and young ice) is being established, and so far covers the years 2013–2021. Qualitative comparison with (a) synthetic aperture radar data, (b) charts of the development stage of the sea ice, and (c) the Antarctic polynya distribution data show that the retrieved ice types, in particular the MYI, are reasonable. Although there are still some shortcomings, the new retrieval allows insight into the interannual evolution and dynamics of Antarctic sea ice types for the first time. The current time series can in principle be extended backwards to start in the year 2002 and can be continued with current and future sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that the CryoSat-2 radar altimeter can provide useful estimates of surface elevation change on a variety of Arctic ice caps, on both monthly and yearly timescales. Changing conditions, however, can lead to a varying bias between the elevation estimated from the radar altimeter and the physical surface due to changes in the ratio of subsurface to surface backscatter. Under melting conditions the radar returns are predominantly from the surface so that if surface melt is extensive across the ice cap estimates of summer elevation loss can be made with the frequent coverage provided by CryoSat-2. For example, the average summer elevation decreases on the Barnes Ice Cap, Baffin Island, Canada were 2.05 ± 0.36 m (2011), 2.55 ± 0.32 m (2012), 1.38 ± 0.40 m (2013) and 1.44 ± 0.37 m (2014), losses which were not balanced by the winter snow accumulation. As winter-to-winter conditions were similar, the net elevation losses were 1.0 ± 0.20 m (winter 2010/11 to winter 2011/12), 1.39±0.20m (2011/12 to 2012/13) and 0.36 ± 0.20 m (2012/13 to 2013/14); for a total surface elevation loss of 2.75 ± 0.20 m over this 3-year period. In contrast, the uncertainty in height change from Devon Ice Cap, Canada, and Austfonna, Svalbard, can be up to twice as large because of the presence of firnandthe possibility of avarying bias between the true surface and the detected elevation due to changing year-to-year conditions. Nevertheless, the surface elevation change estimates from CryoSat for both ice caps are consistent with field and meteorological measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Rayleigh-Mie-Raman lidar has been installed and is operating in the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory at Eureka in the High Arctic (79°59′N, 85°56′W) as part of the Canadian Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Change. The lidar operates in both the visible and ultraviolet and measures aerosol backscatter and extinction coefficients, depolarization ratio, tropospheric temperature, and water vapor mixing ratio. Variable field of view, aperture, and filtering allow fine-tuning of the instrument for different atmospheric conditions. Because of the remote location, operations are carried out via a satellite link. The instrument is introduced along with the measurement techniques utilized and interference filter specifications. The temperature dependence of the water vapor signal depends on the filter specifications, and this is discussed in terms of minimizing the uncertainty of the water vapor mixing ratio product. Finally, an example measurement is presented to illustrate the potential of this instrument for studying the Arctic atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of the polarimetric backscattering response of newly formed sea ice types under a large assortment of surface coverage was conducted using a ship-based C-band polarimetric radar system. Polarimetric backscattering results and physical data for 40 stations during the fall freeze-up of 2003, 2006, and 2007 are presented. Analysis of the copolarized correlation coefficient showed its sensitivity to both sea ice thickness and surface coverage and resulted in a statistically significant separation of ice thickness into two regimes: ice less than 6 cm thick and ice greater than 8 cm thick. A case study quantified the backscatter of a layer of snow infiltrated frost flowers on new sea ice, showing that the presence of the old frost flowers can enhance the backscatter by more than 6 dB. Finally, a statistical analysis of a series of temporal--spatial measurements over a visually homogeneous frost-flower-covered ice floe identified temperature as a significant, but not exclusive, factor in the backscattering measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]