Research on the interaction of microwaves with snow and ice. Part I. A study on the microwave backscattering from melting snowpack

摘要

The primary objective of this paper is to obtain the basic data on the interaction between microwaves and natural snowpack in the melting season using 9.37GHz and 31.5GHz microwaves. The diurnal variations of the back scatter from snowpack were measured through microwave sensors placed above the surface. The obtained results indicated periodic changes in the daytime and relatively monotonous changes in the nighttime. These results suggest that the interference occurred between the reflective wave from snowpack and the original transmitting wave. In order to confirm these periodic changes of the back scatter, laboratory experiments were carried out by the use of artificially wetted snow.