Passive remote sensing of snowpack using a multi-frequency microwave radiometer

摘要

The Advanced Earth Observing Satellite-II (ADEO-II) equipped with The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR) will be launched in 2000 and is expected to observe various physical content concerning water cycling. AMSR is a multi-frequency microwave radiometer; which observe the earth at the same time by capturing micro and millimeter-wave noises at 8 different frequency bands from 6.9 to 89.0 G3Hz. An algorithm for extracting two different snowpack parameters from the data observed at the 5 selected frequencies of the AMSR was developed. Using snowpack parameters ordinary observed in Hokkaido region, the effectiveness of the algorithm developed was investigated. The results of investigation showed that the algorithm is effective for measuring snowpack depth and grain size.