scholarly journals Seasonal variations of the backscattering coefficient measured by radar altimeters over the Antarctica Ice Sheet

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fifi I. Adodo ◽  
Frédérique Remy ◽  
Ghislain Picard
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Seasonal Cycle ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Sensitivity Study ◽  
Surface Elevation ◽  
Radar Altimeter ◽  
Backscattering Coefficient ◽  
Electromagnetic Model ◽  
Snow Temperature ◽  
Ku Band

Abstract. Spaceborne radar altimeter is a valuable tool for observing the Antarctica Ice Sheet. The radar wave penetration into the snow provides information both on the surface and the subsurface of the snowpack due to its dependence on the snow properties. However this penetration also induces a negative bias on the estimated surface elevation. Empirical corrections of this space and time-varying bias are usually based on the backscattering coefficient variability. We investigate the spatial and seasonal variations of the backscattering coefficient at the S (3.2 GHz), Ku (13.6 GHz) and Ka (37 GHz) bands. We identified two clearly marked zones over the continent, one with the maximum of Ku band backscattering coefficient in the winter and another with the maximum in the summer. To explain this, we performed a sensitivity study of the backscattering coefficient at the S, Ku and Ka bands to surface snow density, snow temperature and snow grain size using an electromagnetic model. The results show that the seasonal cycle of the backscattering coefficient at the Ka band, is dominated by the volume echo and is mainly explained by snow temperature. In contrast, the cycle is dominated by the surface echo at the S band. At Ku band, which intermediate in terms of wavelength between S and Ka bands, the seasonal cycle is in the first zone dominated by the volume echo and by the surface echo in the second one. Such seasonal and spatial variations of the backscattering coefficient at different radar frequencies should be taken into account the for more precise estimation of the surface elevation changes.

scholarly journals Seasonal variations of the backscattering coefficient measured by radar altimeters over the Antarctic Ice Sheet

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1767-1778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fifi Ibrahime Adodo ◽  
Frédérique Remy ◽  
Ghislain Picard
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Seasonal Cycle ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Surface Elevation ◽  
Backscattering Coefficient ◽  
Antarctic Ice Sheet ◽  
Radar Wave ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Snow Temperature ◽  
Ku Band

Abstract. Spaceborne radar altimeters are a valuable tool for observing the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The radar wave interaction with the snow provides information on both the surface and the subsurface of the snowpack due to its dependence on the snow properties. However, the penetration of the radar wave within the snowpack also induces a negative bias on the estimated surface elevation. Empirical corrections of this space- and time-varying bias are usually based on the backscattering coefficient variability. We investigate the spatial and seasonal variations of the backscattering coefficient at the S (3.2 GHz ∼ 9.4 cm), Ku (13.6 GHz ∼ 2.3 cm) and Ka (37 GHz ∼ 0.8 cm) bands. We identified that the backscattering coefficient at Ku band reaches a maximum in winter in part of the continent (Region 1) and in the summer in the remaining (Region 2), while the evolution at other frequencies is relatively uniform over the whole continent. To explain this contrasting behavior between frequencies and between regions, we studied the sensitivity of the backscattering coefficient at three frequencies to several parameters (surface snow density, snow temperature and snow grain size) using an electromagnetic model. The results show that the seasonal cycle of the backscattering coefficient at Ka frequency is dominated by the volume echo and is mainly driven by snow temperature evolution everywhere. In contrast, at S band, the cycle is dominated by the surface echo. At Ku band, the seasonal cycle is dominated by the volume echo in Region 1 and by the surface echo in Region 2. This investigation provides new information on the seasonal dynamics of the Antarctic Ice Sheet surface and provides new clues to build more accurate corrections of the radar altimeter surface elevation signal in the future.

scholarly journals Ice-Sheet Surface Elevation and Changes Observable by Satellite Radar Altimetry

1979 ◽  
Vol 24 (90) ◽  
pp. 491-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Jay Zwally ◽  
R. L. Brooks ◽  
H. Ray Stanley ◽  
W. J. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Drainage Basin ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
The State ◽  
Surface Elevation ◽  
Radar Altimeter ◽  
Major Question ◽  
The Status ◽  
Satellite Radar ◽  
Ice Sheet Dynamics

Abstract A major question in ice-sheet dynamics is the state of balance between the net mass input and ice flow. Since an imbalance produces a change in surface elevation, the state of balance can be studied by monitoring the elevation, and this has been accomplished by surface-leveling techniques in a few locations. Due to the requirement for accurate and repetitive measurements over large areas, it is not practical to determine the status of balance of an entire ice sheet or even a major drainage basin by conventional techniques. Now, recent results from satellite-borne radar altimeter measurements over the Greenland ice sheet demonstrate the feasibility of accurately measuring and monitoring the topography of large ice masses. The application of this new technique offers the possibility of making a meaningful mass-balance determination and for detecting actual or potential ice-sheet surges.

scholarly journals Satellite Altimetry, Semivariograms, and Seasonal Elevation Changes in the Ablation Zone of West Greenland

1990 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 158-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig S. Lingle ◽  
Anita C. Brenner ◽  
H. Jay Zwally
Keyword(s):  
Noise Level ◽  
Satellite Altimetry ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Surface Elevation ◽  
Altimeter Data ◽  
Ablation Zone ◽  
Radar Altimeter ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
Elevation Changes ◽  
The Mean

Seasonal mean changes in the surface elevation of the ablation zone of West Greenland to 72°N between spring 1985 and summer 1986 are measured using radar altimeter data from the 18-month Geosat Geodetic Mission. Semi-variograms are used to estimate the noise in the data as a function of position on the ice sheet. Mean elevation changes are computed by averaging the elevation differences measured at points where orbits ascending in latitude are later crossed by orbits descending in latitude (or the reverse), with each cross-over difference weighted in proportion to the inverse square of the noise level in the neighborhood of the cross-over point. The mean surface elevation of the ablation zone, relative to spring 1985, ranged from 1.5 ± 0.6 m lower during summer 1985 to 1.7 ± 0.4 m higher during spring 1986.

scholarly journals An improved elevation dataset for climate and ice-sheet modelling: validation with satellite imagery

1997 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 439-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Bamber ◽  
R. A. Bindschadler
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
General Circulation Models ◽  
Horizontal Resolution ◽  
Surface Elevation ◽  
Altimeter Data ◽  
Ice Thickness ◽  
Radar Altimeter

Recent studies by several groups have indicated that the performance of general circulation models (GCMs) over the ice sheets is severely limited by the relatively low resolution of the models at the margins, where surface slopes are greatest. To provide accurate energy-budget estimates, resolutions of better than 0.5° are desirable, requiring nested or multiple gridding and accurate, high-resolution boundary conditions. Here we present a new, high-resolution (5 km) digital elevation model for the Antarctic ice sheet, derived from radar-altimeter data obtained from the geodetic phase of the satellite, ERS-1. These data have been combined with the revised ice-thickness grid reported in Bamber and Huybrechts (1996) to produce a bed- and surface-elevation dataset for use in regional and global climate and paleo-climaie modelling applications. The real level of spatial detail in the datasets has been examined with the aid of Landsat Thematic Mapper data. Imagery around Ice Stream D, West Antarctica, shows that the revised ice-thickness grid is accurately geolocated, and contains valuable fine-scale topographic detail beyond that available from the cartographic version of the data (Drewry, 1983). The surface topography in the region of the Ross Ice Shelf has been used to illustrate the level of detail in both the vertical and horizontal resolution of (he surface dataset. Laudsat data has also been used to examine features in the surface-elevation data. In particular, the location of the grounding zone, for Ice Streams D and E, derived from the two data sources shows good agreement. The results of this validation underscore the utility of the new datasets for high-resolution modelling, and highlight the limitations of the Folio maps for such applications.

scholarly journals Boundary conditions of an active West Antarctic subglacial lake: implications for storage of water beneath the ice sheet

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 2979-2999 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Siegert ◽  
N. Ross ◽  
H. Corr ◽  
B. Smith ◽  
T. Jordan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Surface Elevation ◽  
Altimeter Data ◽  
Radar Altimeter ◽  
Local Flow ◽  
Antarctic Ice Sheet ◽  
Subglacial Lake ◽  
West Antarctic ◽  
Ice Surface ◽  
The Antarctic

Abstract. Repeat-pass IceSat altimetry has revealed 124 discrete surface height changes across the Antarctic Ice Sheet, interpreted to be caused by subglacial lake discharges (surface lowering) and inputs (surface uplift). Few of these active lakes have been confirmed by radio-echo sounding (RES) despite several attempts (notable exceptions are Lake Whillans and three in the Adventure Subglacial Trench). Here we present targeted RES and radar altimeter data from an "active lake" location within the upstream Institute Ice Stream, into which 0.12 km3 of water is calculated to have flowed between October 2003 and February 2008. We use a series of transects to establish an accurate appreciation of the influences of bed topography and ice-surface elevation on water storage potential. The location of surface height change is over the downslope flank of a distinct topographic hollow, where RES reveals no obvious evidence for deep (> 10 m) water. The regional hydropotential reveals a sink coincident with the surface change, however. Governed by the location of the hydrological sink, basal water will likely "drape" over existing topography in a manner dissimilar to subglacial lakes where flat strong specular RES reflections are measured. The inability of RES to detect the active lake means that more of the Antarctic ice sheet bed may contain stored water than is currently appreciated. Variation in ice surface elevation datasets leads to significant alteration in calculations of the local flow of basal water indicating the value of, and need for, high resolution RES datasets in both space and time to establish and characterise subglacial hydrological processes.

scholarly journals Seasat Range Measurements Verified on a 3-D Ice Sheet

1986 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 69-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.S. Gundestrup ◽  
R.A. Bindschadler ◽  
H.J. Zwally
Keyword(s):  
Surface Topography ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Great Distance ◽  
Surface Elevation ◽  
Radar Altimeter ◽  
Satellite Measurements ◽  
Volume Changes ◽  
Differential Measurement ◽  
Range Measurements ◽  
True Surface

The Seasat radar altimeter observations of a 100 km2 area in South Greenland are compared to a detailed, ground-based survey, using “geoceivers” and pressure altimeters. The comparison shows the Seasat measurement of distance between satellite and earth to be accurate to the level of the geoceiver determined surface (±2 m). Due to the great distance between satellite and surface, finer details of surface topography are not revealed in the satellite measurements. As the satellite tends to lock onto hills in the vicinity of the sub-satellite track, the satellite tends to overestimate the true surface elevation. However, a similar altimeter would make a similar overestimate, allowing accurate differential measurement of volume changes between the two surveys.

scholarly journals Boundary conditions of an active West Antarctic subglacial lake: implications for storage of water beneath the ice sheet

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Siegert ◽  
N. Ross ◽  
H. Corr ◽  
B. Smith ◽  
T. Jordan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Surface Elevation ◽  
Altimeter Data ◽  
Radar Altimeter ◽  
Local Flow ◽  
Antarctic Ice Sheet ◽  
Subglacial Lake ◽  
West Antarctic ◽  
Ice Surface ◽  
The Antarctic

Abstract. Repeat-pass ICESat altimetry has revealed 124 discrete surface height changes across the Antarctic Ice Sheet, interpreted to be caused by subglacial lake discharges (surface lowering) and inputs (surface uplift). Few of these active lakes have been confirmed by radio-echo sounding (RES) despite several attempts (notable exceptions are Lake Whillans and three in the Adventure Subglacial Trench). Here we present targeted RES and radar altimeter data from an "active lake" location within the upstream Institute Ice Stream, into which at least 0.12 km3 of water was previously calculated to have flowed between October 2003 and February 2008. We use a series of transects to establish an accurate depiction of the influences of bed topography and ice surface elevation on water storage potential. The location of surface height change is downstream of a subglacial hill on the flank of a distinct topographic hollow, where RES reveals no obvious evidence for deep (> 10 m) water. The regional hydropotential reveals a sink coincident with the surface change, however. Governed by the location of the hydrological sink, basal water will likely "drape" over topography in a manner dissimilar to subglacial lakes where flat strong specular RES reflections are measured. The inability of RES to detect the active lake means that more of the Antarctic ice sheet bed may contain stored water than is currently appreciated. Variation in ice surface elevation data sets leads to significant alteration in calculations of the local flow of basal water indicating the value of, and need for, high-resolution altimetry data in both space and time to establish and characterise subglacial hydrological processes.

scholarly journals Seasat Range Measurements Verified on a 3-D Ice Sheet

1986 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 69-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.S. Gundestrup ◽  
R.A. Bindschadler ◽  
H.J. Zwally
Keyword(s):  
Surface Topography ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Great Distance ◽  
Surface Elevation ◽  
Radar Altimeter ◽  
Satellite Measurements ◽  
Volume Changes ◽  
Differential Measurement ◽  
Range Measurements ◽  
True Surface

The Seasat radar altimeter observations of a 100 km2 area in South Greenland are compared to a detailed, ground-based survey, using “geoceivers” and pressure altimeters. The comparison shows the Seasat measurement of distance between satellite and earth to be accurate to the level of the geoceiver determined surface (±2 m). Due to the great distance between satellite and surface, finer details of surface topography are not revealed in the satellite measurements. As the satellite tends to lock onto hills in the vicinity of the sub-satellite track, the satellite tends to overestimate the true surface elevation. However, a similar altimeter would make a similar overestimate, allowing accurate differential measurement of volume changes between the two surveys.

scholarly journals Satellite Altimetry, Semivariograms, and Seasonal Elevation Changes in the Ablation Zone of West Greenland

1990 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 158-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig S. Lingle ◽  
Anita C. Brenner ◽  
H. Jay Zwally
Keyword(s):  
Noise Level ◽  
Satellite Altimetry ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Surface Elevation ◽  
Altimeter Data ◽  
Ablation Zone ◽  
Radar Altimeter ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
Elevation Changes ◽  
The Mean

Seasonal mean changes in the surface elevation of the ablation zone of West Greenland to 72°N between spring 1985 and summer 1986 are measured using radar altimeter data from the 18-month Geosat Geodetic Mission. Semi-variograms are used to estimate the noise in the data as a function of position on the ice sheet. Mean elevation changes are computed by averaging the elevation differences measured at points where orbits ascending in latitude are later crossed by orbits descending in latitude (or the reverse), with each cross-over difference weighted in proportion to the inverse square of the noise level in the neighborhood of the cross-over point. The mean surface elevation of the ablation zone, relative to spring 1985, ranged from 1.5 ± 0.6 m lower during summer 1985 to 1.7 ± 0.4 m higher during spring 1986.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document