Improved Monitoring of Arctic Sea Ice from Multi-Frequency Radar Remote Sensing

Sea ice is an integral part of the climate system. To obtain hemispheric-scale information about sea ice and the snow cover on top, satellite radar remote sensing is the method of choice. Microwave frequencies are ideally suited to observe sea ice/snow because they are independent of clouds and penetrate the snow and sea ice. However, snow and its geophysical properties complicate the retrieval of snow depth, sea ice thickness and other critical variables from satellite radar sensors. Therefore, we need high-resolution radar measurements with coincident snow and sea ice geophysical properties. In this research, we propose to utilize high-resolution, surface-based multi-frequency radar measurements of Arctic sea ice at Ka-, Ku-, X-, C- and L-band radar frequencies. Measurements were collected during the 2019-20 year-long MOSAiC International Arctic Drift Expedition: the largest and longest expedition in the Arctic Ocean. Radar data will be analyzed to develop observational and theoretical approaches to improve satellite-based algorithms of snow and sea ice parameters essential to climate research.

Faculty Supervisor:

John Yackel

Student:

Partner:

H2O Geomatics Inc.

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Calgary

Program: