Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2023-60
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2023-60
20 Apr 2023
 | 20 Apr 2023
Status: this preprint is currently under review for the journal TC.

Forward Modelling of SAR Backscatter during Lake Ice Melt Conditions using the Snow Microwave Radiative Transfer (SMRT) Model

Justin Murfitt, Claude Duguay, Ghislain Picard, and Juha Lemmetyinen

Abstract. Monitoring of lake ice is important to maintain transportation routes but in recent decades the number of in situ observations have declined. Remote sensing has worked to fill this gap in observations, with active microwave, particularly synthetic aperture radar (SAR), being a crucial technology. However, the impact of wet conditions on radar and how interactions change under these conditions has been largely ignored. It is important to understand these interactions as warming conditions are likely to lead to an increase in the occurrence of slush layers. This study works to address this gap using the snow microwave radiative transfer (SMRT) model to conduct forward modelling experiments of backscatter for Lake Oulujärvi in Finland. Experiments were conducted under dry conditions, under moderate wet conditions, and under saturated conditions. These experiments reflected field observations during the 2020–2021 ice season. Results of the dry snow experiments support the dominance of surface scattering from the ice-water interface. However, conditions where layers of wet snow are introduced show that the primary scattering interface changes depending on the location of the wet layer. The addition of a saturated layer at the ice surface results in the highest backscatter values due to the larger dielectric contrast created between the overlying dry snow and the slush layer. Improving the representation of these conditions in SMRT can also aid in more accurate retrievals of lake ice properties such as roughness, which is key for inversion modelling of other properties such as ice thickness.

Justin Murfitt et al.

Status: open (until 01 Jul 2023)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse

Justin Murfitt et al.

Justin Murfitt et al.

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Short summary
This research focuses on the interaction between microwave signals and lake ice under wet conditions. Field data collected for Lake Oulujärvi in Finland was used to model backscatter under different conditions. The results of the modelling likely indicate that a combination of increased water content and roughness of different interfaces caused backscatter to increase. These results could help to identify areas where lake ice is unsafe for winter transportation.