EXTRACTION OF LATE SUMMER SEA ICE PROPERTIES FROM POLARIMETRIC SAR FEATURES IN C- AND X- BAND

摘要

In this study we examine the potential use of six polarimetricrnfeatures for interpretation of late summer sea icerntypes. Five high-resolution C and X-band scenes werernrecorded in the Fram Strait covering fast first-year andrnold sea ice. In addition sea ice thickness, surface roughnessrnand melt pond fraction were collected during a helicopterrnflight at the study area. From the SAR scenes, sixrnpolarimetric features were extracted. Along sections ofrnthe track of the helicopter flight, the mean of the SARrnfeatures were compared to mean values of the propertiesrnmeasured during the helicopter flight. The resultsrnreveal relations between several of the SAR features andrnthe geophysical properties measured in C-band, and weakrnrelations in X-band.