Relationships between radar backscatter and accumulation rates on the Greenland ice sheet

Forster, R. R.; Jezek, K.; Bolzan, John F.; Baumgärtner, F.; Gogineni, S.

doi:10.1080/014311699211660

Cited by 28 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…As observed earlier by Antarctic and Greenland ice sheet studies [3], [8], [11], [23], [30], [54], such changes are mirrored by the corresponding backscattering signatures, which show a clear rise in with decreasing snow accumulation. Larger grain sizes and a higher number of strata per depth unit are thought to cause an increased volume scattering, accompanied with a reduction of penetration depth.…”

Section: A Transect Neumayer-kottassupporting

confidence: 50%

“…This assumption is confirmed by traverse studies [45] that found the number of strata within the upper 2 m to reach up to 60, with an average of 35. These findings compare with observations from central Greenland, where increased backscattering was also associated with intensified layering together with increased grain sizes due to low accumulation rates [11], [23]. Class I and II cluster means are not very distinct for Nscat and thus could not be correctly discriminated on the plateau area.…”

Section: B Snow Pack Classificationcontrasting

confidence: 49%

“…Overcoming these uncertainties and recovering spatiotemporal ice sheet volume variations have become a major goal of current spaceborne Earth observation methods, in the first instance carried out by passive [5], [55] and active microwave instruments [6], [8], [11], [30], [47], [48], [53]. Although much effort has been done to assess the principles of microwave interaction with snow and ice, they are not yet completely understood in all their complexity [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Spatiotemporal variations in snow deposition are therefore expected to have a major impact on the radar backscattering. The capability of microwave remote sensing for estimating snow accumulation has been recognized as a result of the reported inverse correlation between the backscattering coefficient and accumulation rate [3], [8], [11], [23], [26], [30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Retrieving snowpack properties and accumulation estimates from a combination of SAR and scatterometer measurements

Rotschky

Rack

Dierking

et al. 2006

IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sensing

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Abstract-This study combines two satellite radar techniques, low-resolution C-/Ku-band scatterometer and high-resolution C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for glaciological studies, in particular mass-balance estimations. Three parameters expressing the mean backscattering and its dependency on azimuth and incidence angle are used to describe and classify the Antarctic ice sheets backscattering behavior. Simple linear regression analyses are carried out between ground truth accumulation data and the SAR backscattering coefficient along continuous profile lines. From this we parameterize the accumulation rate separately for certain snow pack regimes. We find that SAR data can be used to map mass-balance changes, however only within limited areas. Applying this method therefore generally requires accurate ground truth for regional calibration together with additional information regarding mean air temperature or elevation. This investigation focuses on the area of Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. We present the first high-resolution accumulation map based on SAR data for the surrounding area of the EPICA deep ice core drilling site Kohnen, which is compared to reliable ground truth records as well as to a surface-mass-balance map interpolated from these at low resolution.

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Section: A Transect Neumayer-kottassupporting

confidence: 50%

Section: B Snow Pack Classificationcontrasting

confidence: 49%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Retrieving snowpack properties and accumulation estimates from a combination of SAR and scatterometer measurements

Rotschky

Rack

Dierking

et al. 2006

IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sensing

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show abstract

“…In active mode, a different method to derive accumulation based on the difference between backscattering coefficients at various incidence angles was developed for Greenland (Drinkwater et al, 2001;Forster et al, 1999).…”

Section: Application 3: Net Accumulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Snow physics as relevant to snow photochemistry

et al. 2008

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Abstract. Snow on the ground is a complex multiphase photochemical reactor that dramatically modifies the chemical composition of the overlying atmosphere. A quantitative description of the emissions of reactive gases by snow requires knowledge of snow physical properties. This overview details our current understanding of how those physical properties relevant to snow photochemistry vary during snow metamorphism. Properties discussed are density, specific surface area, thermal conductivity, permeability, gas diffusivity and optical properties. Inasmuch as possible, equations to parameterize these properties as functions of climatic variables are proposed, based on field measurements, laboratory experiments and theory. The potential of remote sensing methods to obtain information on some snow physical variables such as grain size, liquid water content and snow depth are discussed. The possibilities for and difficulties of building a snow photochemistry model by adapting current snow physics models are explored. Elaborate snow physics models already exist, and including variables of particular interest to snow photochemistry such as light fluxes and specific surface area appears possible. On the other hand, understanding the nature and location of reactive molecules in snow seems to be the greatest difficulty modelers will have to face for lack of experimental data, and progress on this aspect will require the detailed study of natural snow samples.

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Program for Arctic Regional Climate Assessment (PARCA): Goals, key findings, and future directions

Thomas¹

2001

J. Geophys. Res.

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Abstract. The NASA Program for Arctic Regional Climate Assessment (PARCA) has the prime objectives of measuring and understanding the mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet. It includes measurement of changes in ice sheet volume using different approaches, analysis of satellite and aircraft data to investigate various characteristics of the ice sheet, and in situ measurements aimed at understanding observed changes. The most important result from PARCA is the first accurate assessment of the mass balance of a polar ice sheet. Higher-elevation parts of the ice sheet are in overall balance, with local areas of quite rapid thickening or thinning, most of which could represent the effects of temporal variability in snow accumulation rates. Many coastal regions thinned considerably during the 1990s, with net losses from the ice sheet sufficient to raise global sea level by almost 10% of the total increase. There was coastal warming during this period, and a network of automatic weather stations (AWS) on the ice sheet measured a 2 ø warming for 1995-1999 compared to the 1950s. Nevertheless, observed ice-thinning rates of up to several meters per year cannot be explained by increased melting, indicating that discharge velocities must also have increased. In addition to the scientific results, major advances have been made in the use of satellite data for ice sheet research, particularly application of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data to the measurement of ice velocity and identification and monitoring of glacier grounding lines. On the basis of these observations, PARCA focus has shifted to the coastal regions, with emphasis on surface ablation and its sensitivity to summer warming and possible albedo feedback, and on the dynamics of the glaciers that are observed to be changing rapidly.

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Relationships between radar backscatter and accumulation rates on the Greenland ice sheet

Cited by 28 publications

References 19 publications

Retrieving snowpack properties and accumulation estimates from a combination of SAR and scatterometer measurements

Retrieving snowpack properties and accumulation estimates from a combination of SAR and scatterometer measurements

Snow physics as relevant to snow photochemistry

Program for Arctic Regional Climate Assessment (PARCA): Goals, key findings, and future directions

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