DocumentCode :
1354215
Title :
Synthetic Aperture Radar Measurements of a Retreating Firn Line on a Temperate Icecap
Author :
Brown, Ian A.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Phys. Geogr. & Quaternary Geol., Stockholm Univ., Stockholm, Sweden
Volume :
5
Issue :
1
fYear :
2012
Firstpage :
153
Lastpage :
160
Abstract :
The firn line, like other glacier facies, is mapped operationally as part of glacier monitoring activities for glaciological and climate studies. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images are commonly used to determine the firn line in dry snow imagery. The radiometric response of retreating firn has not previously been investigated. Rather, it has been assumed that firn line mapping is only useful where large scale advances or retreats of the lower limit of continuous firn have occurred. In this paper the radiometric signal of retreating firn on an icecap in north Norway is analyzed using multi-temporal SAR imagery. Using comparisons with firn well above the firn line and field investigations of the firn properties, backscattering mechanisms are inferred. It is found that retreating firn has a distinctive radiometric signal that can be used to identify the inception and progression of firn down-wasting prior to and during firn line retreat.
Keywords :
backscatter; geophysical image processing; geophysical techniques; glaciology; radiometry; snow; synthetic aperture radar; backscattering mechanism; climatic condition; dry snow image; firn down-wasting prior inception; firn down-wasting prior progression; glacier facies; glacier monitoring activities; glaciological study; multitemporal SAR image; north Norway; radiometric response; radiometric signal; retreating firn line mapping method; synthetic aperture radar image; synthetic aperture radar measurement; temperate Icecap; Backscatter; Global Positioning System; Ice; Radiometry; Scattering; Snow; Synthetic aperture radar; Hydrology; ice; scattering; synthetic aperture radar;
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, IEEE Journal of
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
1939-1404
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/JSTARS.2011.2167601
Filename :
6054034
Link To Document :
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