Airborne investigation of quasi-specular Ku-band radar scattering for
satellite altimetry over snow-covered Arctic sea ice
Abstract
Operation Icebridge (OIB) 2016 level 1b Airborne Ku-band Synthetic
Aperture Radar waveforms, concurrent with both OIB lidar data and
Environment and Climate Change Canada in situ data, over snow on
arctic sea ice, near Eureka, Canada. Footprint-scale
(~16 m × 4.5 m) snow depths are estimated and compared
to in situ measurements. Relative return powers and energies of
the air-snow and snow-ice interface are estimated, as well as
footprint-scale roughness and slope. Quasi-specular scattering (higher
return powers/energies) are observed for smoother, flatter footprints.
In addition to this, satellite data is discussed, including Cryosat-2
SARIn.