Multi-year Arctic sea ice extent estimate from scatterometers onboard satellite since 2000
Abstract
Microwave sensors onboard polar orbit satellites are commonly used for sea ice monitoring at high latitude : radiometers are routinely used for this application and scatterometers have also shown they can contribute significantly to it. Since 1991, numerous scatterometers data at C and Ku-bands are available since ERS-1 with NSCAT, QuikSCAT, OSCAT, HY, and ASCAT sensors. In this presentation, we will show how the recent QuikSCAT and ASCAT sensors could be used to build 17-year observation data time series for sea ice monitoring for several parameters such as sea ice edge, displacements and types. We will focus here on the estimate of multi year sea ice. Backscatter data from scatterometer are useful to distinguish first year from multi-year sea ice in the Arctic, results and differences between C-band and Ku-band sensors results will be presented. We will also show time series of the multi-year and first year ice and comparison with other products inferred from other sensors and/or methods. The benefit of the use of the two ASCAT sensors that are presently available (onboard MetOp-A -since 2007 and -B, since 2012) will be enhanced and we will present results using the new ASCAT calibrated reprocessed data (2007-2014).This presentation will enhance the need of scatterometer data for sea ice application with examples of the U.S. QuikSCAT/SeaWinds and the E.U. MetOp/ASCATs scatterometers, the need of the continuity of scatterometers missions and also the benefit of the combination of sensors and datasets (scatterometers, scatterometers with radiometers) for a long-term observation of the polar areas.Scatterometer backscatter data are routinely processed and archived at IFREMER/CERSAT, which provides an exceptional basis for analysis of long-term variations of the sea ice.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016AGUFM.C42B..07G
- Keywords:
-
- 0702 Permafrost;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 0746 Lakes;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 0750 Sea ice;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 0758 Remote sensing;
- CRYOSPHERE