Understanding of the interaction of the radar response with the river ice cover

The development of a theoretical model to describe the scattering mechanisms involved in the interaction of the radar signal with the fresh water ice is important, as it helps in river ice monitoring. The model used in this study is based on radiative transfer theory which is solved by Doubling Matrix Methods". This numerical method accounts for scattering effects due to the volume, boundaries, boundary-volume interactions and coupling between layers. Three ice types were formed on this river (Columnar ice, snow ice and frazil ice). This study focused mainly on two objectives. First, the understanding of the interaction of the radar signal with the different ice types formed in the river. Second, the determining the dominant scattering mechanism for the different ice types and radar configurations (frequencies and angles of incidence).