Abstract
Sea ice concentration (SIC) is an important parameter in characterizing sea ice. Limited by the environment and the spatial extent of observation, it is difficult for field work to meet the needs of a large-scale SIC study. However, with its many advantages, such as the ability to make large-scale, high-resolution and long-duration observations, the altimeter can be used to determine SIC on a large scale. Using the correspondence between the satellite pulse altimeter waveform and reflector property, waveform classification is employed. Moreover, this paper develops an algorithm to obtain the SIC from altimeter waveforms. In an actual computation, Pyrz Bay in the Antarctic is taken as an experimental region, and one-year and seasonal SICs are derived from ERS-1/GM waveforms over this study area. Furthermore, altimetric SICs are compared with those of SSMR SSM/I. The results show that the spatial distribution and the regions of maximum SIC determined employing these two methods are consistent. This demonstrates that altimeter data can be used to monitor sea ice.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cao M, Jin R. Sea ice Concentration monitor by Remote (in Chinese). Remote Sens Technol Appl, 2006, 21: 259–264
Wang H, Heygster G, Han S, et al. Arctic multiyear ice concentration retrieval based on AMSR-E 89 GHz data. Chin J Polar Res, 2009, 21: 186–196
Fu L L, Cazenave A. Satellite Altimetry and Earth Sciences. California: Academic Press, 2001
Jiang W, Chu Y, Li J, et al. Water level variation of Qinghai Lake from altimeteric data (in Chinese). Geomatics Inf Sci Wuhan Univ, 2008, 33: 15–18
Berry P A M, Jasper A, Bracke H. Retracking ERS-1 altimeter waveforms over land for topographic height determination: An expert system approach. ESA Pub, SP-414, 1997, 1: 403–408
Lee H K. Radar altimetry methods for solid earth geodynamics studies. Doctoral Dissertation. Columbus: Ohio State University, USA, 2008
Frédérique R, Soazig P. Antarctic ice sheet and radar altimetry: A Review. Remote Sens, 2009, 1: 1212–1239
Laxon S. Sea ice altimeter processing scheme at the EODC. Int J Remote Sens, 1994, 15: 915–924
Peacock N R, Laxon S. Sea surface height determination in the Arctic Ocean from ERS altimetry. J Geophys Res, 2004, 109: 1–14
Guo J, Gao Y, Hwang C, et al. A multi-subwaveform parametric retracker of the radar satellite altimetric waveform and recovery of gravity anomalies over coastal oceans. Sci China: Earth Sci, 2010, 53: 610–616
Hwang C, Guo J, Deng X, et al. Coastal gravity anomalies from retreacked Geosat/GM altimetry: Improvement, limitation and the role of airborne gravity data. J Geodesy, 2006, 80: 204–216
Sandwell D T, Smith W H F. Marine gravity anomaly from Geosat and ERS-1 satellite altimeter. Geophys J Int, 2005, 163: 79–89
Cavalieri D, Parkinson C, Gloersen P, et al. Sea ice concentrations from Nimbus-7 SMMR and DMSP SSM/I passive microwave data. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center, 1996, updated 2008
Brown G S. The average impulse response of a rough surface and its applications. IEEE Trans Anttennas Propag, 1977, AP-25: 67–74
Dwyer R E, Godin R H. Determining sea-ice boundaries and ice roughness using GEOS-3 altimeter data. NASA Contractor Report, NASA, 1980
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yang, Y., DongChen, E., Wang, H. et al. Sea ice concentration over the Antarctic Ocean from satellite pulse altimetry. Sci. China Earth Sci. 54, 113–118 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-010-4108-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-010-4108-7