NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) 20100032968: CBSIT 2009: Airborne Validation of Envisat Radar Altimetry and In Situ Ice Camp Measurements Over Arctic Sea Ice

0.08 MB·English

by  NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

CBSUT 2009: Airborne Validation nyEnvisa Radar A8bmetry and Dn Situ Ice Camp
over Arctic Sea Ice
/
Connor, Laurence'; Farrell, Sinemd"; McAdoo, David; K,ob/8,Wi8iam ;//cvu' Scymou/ 4;Dic6xc+
5:
Afenge,.Iacqueline Markus, Thorsten'
\Y0AAlaborvm,y/orSatellite Abbvotry; 'Oniv,,d^Qf Mar &xvJ^^^ Flight
*Uo^e,^^(Il^g,Lmn6m;^0^. Aon7(},b^8rg^nvKvseun6Laboratory
The past few years have seen the emergence of satellite oJhmctryoxa valuable tool for takin g quantitative
sea ice monitoring beyond the traditional surface extent measurements and into estimates of sea ice
thickness and volume, parameters that arc fundamental to improved understanding of polar dynamics and
dimaucmoddinu. Several studies have novv demonstrated the use of both microwave (ERS, EnvisatJRA-2)
and laser (ICESat/GLAS) satellite altimeters for determining sea ice thickness. The complexity ofpolar
environments, however, continues to make sea ice thickness determination a complicated remote sensing
task and validation studies remain oxouudui for successful monitoring oJ sea ice hy satellites. One such
validation effort, the Arctic Aircraft Altimeter (A/\/\) campaign of2006. included undcd]ighmofEuvixu|
and 1CBSu/ north of the Canadian Archipelago using NASA's y-3 aircraft. This campaign compared
Envisat and ICESat sea ice elevation measurements with high-resolution airborne elevation rneasureme tits,
revealing the impact ofmfmz*u leads nu radar u|bmctry and ice drift no hocroldmctry.
Continuing this research and validation effort, the Canada Basin Sea Ice Thickncss (CBSIT) experiment
was completed in April 20U9.[8S[[ was conducted byNOAA. and NASA um part of NASA's Operation
Ice Bridge, a gap-filling mission intended to supplement sea and land ice monitoring until the launch of
NASA's |C[3m'2 mission. CH8|Tn'uu flown onthe NASA y'3.n/bioh was equipped with u scanning laser
altimeter, u Ku-band snow radar, and un updated nadir |ookio^pho^o-imu^io^ system. The CB5[T
campaign consisted of/woflights: on undcdligk| of' Enviya/ along u 1000 km track similar <n that flown in
an
2006, and a flight through the Nares Strait up to the Lincoln Sea that included overflight of the Danish
an
GreenArc Ice Camp off'the coast of northern Greenland. We present examination of data collected
durin- this campaign, comparing airborne laser altimeter measurements with (1) Envisat RA-2 returns
retracked optimally for sea ice and (2) in situ measurements ofsea ice thickness and snow depth gathered
from ice camp surveys. Particular attention is given to lead identification and classification using the
continuous photo-irnaging system along the Envisat underflight as well as the performance of the snow
radar over the ice rumpsurvey lines.