Cryosphere applications of NSCAT data
- 1 May 1999
- journal article
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing
- Vol. 37 (3) , 1671-1684
- https://doi.org/10.1109/36.763287
Abstract
Though designed to measure vector winds over the ocean, new imaging techniques facilitate the use of NASA scatterometer data (NSCAT) in cryosphere studies. NSCAT provides data of unprecedented coverage, resolution, and quality which, when coupled with the scatterometer image reconstruction with filtering (SIRF) algorithm, enables images of /spl sigma//sup o/ at resolutions approaching 8 km over stationary targets. Such images are useful in ice mapping and classification, and multidecadal studies are possible by comparison with Seasat Scatterometer (SASS) data. The utility of NSCAT data in polar ice studies is illustrated through a review of two cryosphere applications of NSCAT data: (1) sea-ice mapping and tracking and (2) ice-sheet change in Greenland and Antarctica. The wide swath and frequent revisit, coupled with incidence and azimuth angle diversity makes NSCAT data very effective in mapping the extent of sea-ice. In Greenland, snow and ice "facies" are clearly delineated on the basis of the seasonally dependent radar backscattering cross section, due to sensitivity of radar backscatter to diagenetic changes occurring at and beneath the surface. Comparison of NSCAT and SASS data enables study of change in Greenland between 1978 and 1996.Keywords
This publication has 58 references indexed in Scilit:
- Recognition of sea ice zones using ERS-1 scatterometer dataPublished by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) ,2002
- Monitoring ecological dynamics in Africa with the ERS-1 scatterometerPublished by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) ,2002
- Sea ice identification using dual-polarized Ku-band scatterometer dataIEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 1997
- Integrating reconstructed scatterometer and advanced very high resolution radiometer data for tropical forest inventoryOptical Engineering, 1995
- A first try at identification of sea ice using the three beam scatterometer of ERS-1International Journal of Remote Sensing, 1994
- Radar measurements of melt zones on the Greenland Ice SheetGeophysical Research Letters, 1994
- Analysis of synthetic aperture radar Data collected over the southwestern Greenland ice sheetJournal of Glaciology, 1993
- The physical basis for sea ice remote sensingPublished by Wiley ,1992
- An ice-motion tracking system at the Alaska SAR facilityIEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, 1990
- Growth of Greenland Ice Sheet: MeasurementScience, 1989