Radar anisotropy of sea ice due to preferred azimuthal orientation of the horizontal c axes of ice crystals

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Abstract
Results of impulse radar, ice crystal c axis, and subice current measurements on the fast ice near Narwhal Island, Alaska, are presented. The crystal structure of the ice was found to have a horizontal crystal c axis with a preferred azimuthal orientation. This orientation was found to align with the direction of the current at the ice‐water interface. Impulse radar reflection measurements revealed that the preferred orientation of the sea ice crystal structure behaved as a microwave polarizer. It was observed that when the antenna E field was oriented parallel with the c axis of the crystal platelets, a strong reflection of the radar signal from the bottom of the ice was obtained. However, when the antenna E field was oriented perpendicular to the c axis, no bottom reflection was detected. The results of this study fully support earlier reports of sea ice inhomogeneity and anisotropy in reference to both structure and electromagnetic energy transmission.

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