Sea-ice characterization measurements needed for testing of microwave remote sensing models

The nature and accuracy of ice-characterization measurements needed to test two microwave backscattering models are clarified by examining the sensitivities of these models to variations in the geophysical parameters they require as input. First, the Bragg, or small perturbation, model for rough surface scattering, which appears appropriate for backscattering from new ice types at L-band, is considered. The sensitivities of this model to variations in the dielectric constant of the ice and to the power spectrum of surface roughness are examined. The dense-medium radiation-transfer model at X-band is considered for backscattering from air bubbles embedded in multilayer ice. The sensitivities of this model to air-bubble size, air-volume fraction, and dielectric loss in the ice are examined. Based on these sensitivities, quantitative characterization guidelines for model testing are discussed.<>