Sea Ice Motion Tracking From Sequential Dual-Polarization RADARSAT-2 Images

A new sea ice motion tracking algorithm that operates with two sequential synthetic aperture radar (SAR) RADARSAT-2 ScanSAR images is presented. The feature tracking approach is based on the combination of the phase-correlation and cross-correlation methods. An algorithm for selecting control points, a matching technique, an approach for filtering out error vectors, and a confidence levels setting for output drift vectors were specifically developed in order to increase the system´s robustness and accuracy. We evaluated ice motion tracking results derived from HH and HV channels of RADARSAT-2 ScanSAR imagery and formulated a condition where the HV channel is more reliable than the HH channel for ice tracking. Furthermore, we found that the ice motion tracking from the HV channel is not affected by noise floor stripes, which are prominent in the cross-polarization RADARSAT-2 ScanSAR images. The developed sea ice tracking technology was implemented at the Canadian Ice Service, Environment Canada for operational use. The system was successfully run to provide operational support of field work in the Arctic Ocean in compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in the spring of 2010.