RETRIEVAL OF THIN ICE THICKNESS FROM MULTIFREQUENCY POLARIMETRIC SAR DATA

We discuss the observed C- and L-band polarimetric signatures of thin bead ice in one Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Image based on the expe cted ice properties and results from a scattering model. In this artic le, we focus on thin ice with thicknesses in the range of 0-10 cm. The layered scattering model used here allows for the inclusion of surfac e and volume scattering contributions from a slush layer, an ice layer , and roughness at the interfaces. The sensitivity of the signatures t o the model parameters is explored. A highly saline surface skim forme d on the top surface during ice growth significantly affects the elect romagnetic properties of the medium and helps to explain the magnitude of the copolarized returns at high incidence angles. Based on these m odel predictions, tee demonstrate an approach to retrieve the ice thic kness from polarimetric SAR observations. The approach includes the tr aining of a neural network with model predictions and using this neura l network to estimate the ice thickness distribution using polarimetri c observations from SAR data. The results from this ice thickness retr ieval process are discussed.