Articles | Volume 16, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3861-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3861-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Brief communication
| 
27 Sep 2022
Brief communication |
| 27 Sep 2022
| 27 Sep 2022
Brief communication: A continuous formulation of microwave scattering from fresh snow to bubbly ice from first principles
Ghislain Picard
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Institut des Géosciences de l’Environnement (IGE), UMR 5001, Grenoble, France
Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
Henning Löwe
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland
Christian Mätzler
GAMMA Remote Sensing AG, Gümligen, Switzerland
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Cited
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A prototype passive microwave retrieval algorithm for tundra snow density J. Welch & R. Kelly https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5259-2025
- Joint analysis of the Cassini RADAR active and passive observations of Enceladus: Constraints on regolith properties and subsurface thermal structure in the South Polar Terrain M. Raza et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2026.117181
- Active-passive microwave scattering in the Antarctica wind-glazed region: an analog for icy moons of Saturn L. Bonnefoy et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-1297-2026
- Evaluating Snow Microwave Radiative Transfer (SMRT) model emissivities with 89 to 243 GHz observations of Arctic tundra snow K. Wivell et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4325-2023
- Simulation of Arctic snow microwave emission in surface-sensitive atmosphere channels M. Sandells et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3971-2024
- A microstructure-based parameterization of the effective anisotropic elasticity tensor of snow, firn, and bubbly ice K. Sundu et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-1579-2024
- Predictive Formulas for Scattering Mean Free Path for General Disordered Dielectric Media Beyond the Long‐Wavelength Regime J. Kim & S. Torquato https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202503370
- Improvement of Polar Snow Microwave Brightness Temperature Simulations for Dense Wind Slab and Large Grain J. Meloche et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2024.3428394
- Multitemporal analysis of Sentinel-1 backscatter during snowmelt using high-resolution field measurements and radiative transfer modelling F. Carletti et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5579-2025
- Evaluation and Application of SMRT Model for L-Band Brightness Temperature Simulation in Arctic Sea Ice Y. Fan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15153889
- Influence of Surface Snow Properties on an 89-GHz Brightness Temperature Extreme Event at Dome Fuji, Antarctica C. Stefanini et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/LGRS.2024.3367111
- A rigorous approach to the specific surface area evolution in snow during temperature gradient metamorphism A. Braun et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-1653-2024
- A physics-based Antarctic melt detection technique: combining Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2, radiative-transfer modeling, and firn modeling M. Dattler et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3613-2024
- The sensitivity of satellite microwave observations to liquid water in the Antarctic snowpack G. Picard et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-5061-2022
- Forward modelling of synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) backscatter during lake ice melt conditions using the Snow Microwave Radiative Transfer (SMRT) model J. Murfitt et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-869-2024
- Investigating the Effect of Lake Ice Properties on Multifrequency Backscatter Using the Snow Microwave Radiative Transfer Model J. Murfitt et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2022.3197109
- Machine learning of Antarctic firn density by combining radiometer and scatterometer remote-sensing data W. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-37-2025
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A prototype passive microwave retrieval algorithm for tundra snow density J. Welch & R. Kelly https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5259-2025
- Joint analysis of the Cassini RADAR active and passive observations of Enceladus: Constraints on regolith properties and subsurface thermal structure in the South Polar Terrain M. Raza et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2026.117181
- Active-passive microwave scattering in the Antarctica wind-glazed region: an analog for icy moons of Saturn L. Bonnefoy et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-1297-2026
- Evaluating Snow Microwave Radiative Transfer (SMRT) model emissivities with 89 to 243 GHz observations of Arctic tundra snow K. Wivell et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4325-2023
- Simulation of Arctic snow microwave emission in surface-sensitive atmosphere channels M. Sandells et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3971-2024
- A microstructure-based parameterization of the effective anisotropic elasticity tensor of snow, firn, and bubbly ice K. Sundu et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-1579-2024
- Predictive Formulas for Scattering Mean Free Path for General Disordered Dielectric Media Beyond the Long‐Wavelength Regime J. Kim & S. Torquato https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202503370
- Improvement of Polar Snow Microwave Brightness Temperature Simulations for Dense Wind Slab and Large Grain J. Meloche et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2024.3428394
- Multitemporal analysis of Sentinel-1 backscatter during snowmelt using high-resolution field measurements and radiative transfer modelling F. Carletti et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5579-2025
- Evaluation and Application of SMRT Model for L-Band Brightness Temperature Simulation in Arctic Sea Ice Y. Fan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15153889
- Influence of Surface Snow Properties on an 89-GHz Brightness Temperature Extreme Event at Dome Fuji, Antarctica C. Stefanini et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/LGRS.2024.3367111
- A rigorous approach to the specific surface area evolution in snow during temperature gradient metamorphism A. Braun et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-1653-2024
- A physics-based Antarctic melt detection technique: combining Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2, radiative-transfer modeling, and firn modeling M. Dattler et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3613-2024
- The sensitivity of satellite microwave observations to liquid water in the Antarctic snowpack G. Picard et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-5061-2022
- Forward modelling of synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) backscatter during lake ice melt conditions using the Snow Microwave Radiative Transfer (SMRT) model J. Murfitt et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-869-2024
- Investigating the Effect of Lake Ice Properties on Multifrequency Backscatter Using the Snow Microwave Radiative Transfer Model J. Murfitt et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2022.3197109
- Machine learning of Antarctic firn density by combining radiometer and scatterometer remote-sensing data W. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-37-2025
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 03 Jun 2026
Short summary
Microwave satellite observations used to monitor the cryosphere require radiative transfer models for their interpretation. These models represent how microwaves are scattered by snow and ice. However no existing theory is suitable for all types of snow and ice found on Earth. We adapted a recently published generic scattering theory to snow and show how it may improve the representation of snows with intermediate densities (~500 kg/m3) and/or with coarse grains at high microwave frequencies.
Microwave satellite observations used to monitor the cryosphere require radiative transfer...
