Radar Scatterometer Discrimination of Sea-Ice Types

Experiments with 400-MHz and 13.3-GHz radar scatterometers indicate that these all-weather remote sensors provide some information which may be used to discriminate between some types of sea-ice categories. Using 12 incidence angles, first-year and multiyear ice were distinguished with greater than 90-percent correct identification accuracy on the basis of 13.3-GHz VV polarization scatterometer data taken in May 1967, near Pt. Barrow, Alaska (NASA Mission 47). Thin, first-year, and multiyear ice were distinguished with about 87-percent correct identification accuracy on the basis of the 13.3-GHz VV polarization scatterometer data taken in April 1970, also near Pt. Barrow, Alaska (NASA Mission 126) and about 75-percent correct identification accuracy on the basis of the 400-MHz VV polarization scatterometer taken during the same mission.