Combination of laser and radar altimeter height measurements to estimate snow depth during the 2004 Antarctic AMSR‐E Sea Ice field campaign

Leuschen, C.; Swift, Robert N.; Comiso, Josefino C.; Raney, R. K.; Chapman, Rickey D.; Krabill, William B.; Sonntag, J. G.

doi:10.1029/2007jc004285

Cited by 29 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This is due to the lack of systematic sea-ice thickness measurements in the Southern Hemisphere. There are only few in situ data sets from upwardlooking sonars (only Weddell Sea; e.g., Harms et al, 2001;Behrendt et al, 2013), drillings (e.g., Lange and Eicken, 1991;Ozsoy-Cicek et al, 2013;Wadhams et al, 1987;Perovich et al, 2004), electromagnetic methods (Haas, 1998;Weissling et al, 2011;Haas et al, 2008) and airborne altimetry (e.g., Dierking, 1995;Leuschen et al, 2008). Those data are distributed unevenly in location, coverage and time and do not allow for the estimation of seasonal and interannual sea-ice volume changes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

About the consistency between Envisat and CryoSat-2 radar freeboard retrieval over Antarctic sea ice

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Knowledge about Antarctic sea-ice volume and its changes over the past decades has been sparse due to the lack of systematic sea-ice thickness measurements in this remote area. Recently, first attempts have been made to develop a sea-ice thickness product over the Southern Ocean from space-borne radar altimetry and results look promising. Today, more than 20 years of radar altimeter data are potentially available for such products. However, the characteristics of individual radar types differ for the available altimeter missions. Hence, it is important and our goal to study the consistency between single sensors in order to develop long and consistent time series. Here, the consistency between freeboard measurements of the Radar Altimeter 2 on board Envisat and freeboard measurements from the SyntheticAperture Interferometric Radar Altimeter on board CryoSat-2 is tested for their overlap period in 2011. Results indicate that mean and modal values are in reasonable agreement over the sea-ice growth season (May-October) and partly also beyond. In general, Envisat data show higher freeboards in the first-year ice zone while CryoSat-2 freeboards are higher in the multiyear ice zone and near the coasts. This has consequences for the agreement in individual sectors of the Southern Ocean, where one or the other ice class may dominate. Nevertheless, over the growth season, mean freeboard for the entire (regionally separated) Southern Ocean differs generally by not more than 3 cm (8 cm, with few exceptions) between Envisat and CryoSat-2, and the differences between modal freeboards lie generally within ±10 cm and often even below.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

About the consistency between Envisat and CryoSat-2 radar freeboard retrieval over Antarctic sea ice

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The determination of sea ice properties from remote sensing data has been a long sought-after goal through the utilization of a wide variety of instruments and field campaigns (e.g., Wadhams et al, 1991;Comiso et al, 2003;Cavalieri et al, 2006;Leuschen et al, 2008;Haas et al, 2010). Data on sea ice properties from satellite altimetry missions have been used to study the behavior of sea ice at regional to global scales (e.g., Laxon et al, 2003;Giles et al, 2008a;Kwok et al, 2009;Farrell et al, 2009;Zwally et al, 2008;Kurtz and Markus, 2012), while data from airborne remote sensing missions have been used to validate satellite data (e.g., Kurtz et al, 2008;Connor et al, 2009;Laxon et al, 2013) and identify new ways to extend the range of sea ice properties that can be studied using satellite remote sensing data (e.g., .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sea ice thickness, freeboard, and snow depth products from Operation IceBridge airborne data

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. The study of sea ice using airborne remote sensing platforms provides unique capabilities to measure a wide variety of sea ice properties. These measurements are useful for a variety of topics including model evaluation and improvement, assessment of satellite retrievals, and incorporation into climate data records for analysis of interannual variability and long-term trends in sea ice properties. In this paper we describe methods for the retrieval of sea ice thickness, freeboard, and snow depth using data from a multisensor suite of instruments on NASA's Operation IceBridge airborne campaign. We assess the consistency of the results through comparison with independent data sets that demonstrate that the IceBridge products are capable of providing a reliable record of snow depth and sea ice thickness. We explore the impact of inter-campaign instrument changes and associated algorithm adaptations as well as the applicability of the adapted algorithms to the ongoing IceBridge mission. The uncertainties associated with the retrieval methods are determined and placed in the context of their impact on the retrieved sea ice thickness. Lastly, we present results for the 2009 and 2010 IceBridge campaigns, which are currently available in product form via the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

show abstract

“…For measurements collected over the Arctic sea ice during October-March, in which the snow cover is dry and cold, the peak radar return is assumed to come from the snow/ice interface (Laxon and others, 2003). This was confirmed through a comparison of data retrieved from laser and radar altimeters operating from an airborne platform ( Giles and others, 2007; Leuschen and others, 2008). Consequently, during these months accurate sea-ice thickness estimates made from satellite radar-altimeter measurements over the Arctic contain less uncertainty due to snow loading.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 58%

An ultra-wideband, microwave radar for measuring snow thickness on sea ice and mapping near-surface internal layers in polar firn

Panzer¹,

Gómez-García²,

Leuschen³

et al. 2013

J. Glaciol.

107

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ABSTRACT. Sea ice is generally covered with snow, which can vary in thickness from a few centimeters to >1 m. Snow cover acts as a thermal insulator modulating the heat exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere, and it impacts sea-ice growth rates and overall thickness, a key indicator of climate change in polar regions. Snow depth is required to estimate sea-ice thickness using freeboard measurements made with satellite altimeters. The snow cover also acts as a mechanical load that depresses ice freeboard (snow and ice above sea level). Freeboard depression can result in flooding of the snow/ice interface and the formation of a thick slush layer, particularly in the Antarctic sea-ice cover. The Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS) has developed an ultra-wideband, microwave radar capable of operation on long-endurance aircraft to characterize the thickness of snow over sea ice. The low-power, 100 mW signal is swept from 2 to 8 GHz allowing the air/snow and snow/ ice interfaces to be mapped with 5 cm range resolution in snow; this is an improvement over the original system that worked from 2 to 6.5 GHz. From 2009 to 2012, CReSIS successfully operated the radar on the NASA P-3B and DC-8 aircraft to collect data on snow-covered sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic for NASA Operation IceBridge. The radar was found capable of snow depth retrievals ranging from 10 cm to >1 m. We also demonstrated that this radar can be used to map near-surface internal layers in polar firn with fine range resolution. Here we describe the instrument design, characteristics and performance of the radar.

show abstract

Combination of laser and radar altimeter height measurements to estimate snow depth during the 2004 Antarctic AMSR‐E Sea Ice field campaign

Cited by 29 publications

References 28 publications

About the consistency between Envisat and CryoSat-2 radar freeboard retrieval over Antarctic sea ice

About the consistency between Envisat and CryoSat-2 radar freeboard retrieval over Antarctic sea ice

Sea ice thickness, freeboard, and snow depth products from Operation IceBridge airborne data

An ultra-wideband, microwave radar for measuring snow thickness on sea ice and mapping near-surface internal layers in polar firn

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About