Interpretation of Seasat radar-altimeter data over sea ice using near-simultaneous SAR imagery

Abstract

The backscatter properties of Seasat altimeter data in the Beaufort Sea on the 3 October 1978 show distinct zones, which arc interpreted in terms of geophysical characteristics. An overlapping and near-simultaneous synthetic-aperture radar image shows regions of open water, new ice and multi-year sea ice, which correspond to the different zones. It is found that the altimeter signal is sensitive to the ocean-ice boundary and that it indicates the ice type. The pulse-echo waveforms also suggest that several scattering components are present in the returned power over sea ice.