Monitoring of Arctic Conditions from a Virtual Constellation of Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellites.

摘要

The long-term goal is to utilize a constellation of satellite radars to monitor the melting and freezing cycles of the Arctic Ocean north of 65o. Satellite data collections will support in-situ buoy clusters and ice camps as well as seagoing experiments with gliders and drifting buoys. From difference maps of time series of images deduce changes in ice extent, ice-type, and lead expansion/contraction with temporal resolutions from hours to days. Ultimately provide a routine Arctic coverage and generate products for operational purposes, and as validation, boundary conditions, and initialization to numerical ice-ocean forecast models.