Impact of spatial averaging on radar reflectivity at internal snowpack layer boundaries
Microwave radar amplitude within a snowpack can be strongly influenced by spatial variability of internal layer boundaries. We quantify the impact of spatial averaging of snow stratigraphy and physical snowpack properties on surface scattering from near-nadir frequency-modulated continuous-wave rada...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2016-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Glaciology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S002214301600099X/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811155875461595136 |
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| author | N. RUTTER H.-P. MARSHALL K. TAPE R. ESSERY J. KING |
| author_facet | N. RUTTER H.-P. MARSHALL K. TAPE R. ESSERY J. KING |
| author_sort | N. RUTTER |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microwave radar amplitude within a snowpack can be strongly influenced by spatial variability of internal layer boundaries. We quantify the impact of spatial averaging of snow stratigraphy and physical snowpack properties on surface scattering from near-nadir frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar at 12–18 GHz. Relative permittivity, density, grain size and stratigraphic boundaries were measured in-situ at high resolution along the length of a 9 m snow trench. An optimal range of horizontal averaging (4–6 m) was identified to attribute variations in surface scattering at layer boundaries to dielectric contrasts estimated from centimetre-scale measurements of snowpack stratigraphy and bulk layer properties. Single vertical profiles of snowpack properties seldom captured the complex local variability influencing near-nadir radar surface scattering. We discuss implications of scaling in-situ measurements for snow radiative transfer modelling and evaluation of airborne microwave remote sensing of snow. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:42:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a1d104fa22d8443d83f4210767a8d6ac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:42:00Z |
| publishDate | 2016-12-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Glaciology |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1d104fa22d8443d83f4210767a8d6ac2023-03-09T12:40:19ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Glaciology0022-14301727-56522016-12-01621065107410.1017/jog.2016.99Impact of spatial averaging on radar reflectivity at internal snowpack layer boundariesN. RUTTER0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5008-3575H.-P. MARSHALL1K. TAPE2R. ESSERY3J. KING4Department of Geography, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UKCenter for Geophysical Investigation of the Shallow Subsurface, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USAInstitute of Northern Engineering, Water & Environmental Research Center, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, USASchool of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UKClimate Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, CanadaMicrowave radar amplitude within a snowpack can be strongly influenced by spatial variability of internal layer boundaries. We quantify the impact of spatial averaging of snow stratigraphy and physical snowpack properties on surface scattering from near-nadir frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar at 12–18 GHz. Relative permittivity, density, grain size and stratigraphic boundaries were measured in-situ at high resolution along the length of a 9 m snow trench. An optimal range of horizontal averaging (4–6 m) was identified to attribute variations in surface scattering at layer boundaries to dielectric contrasts estimated from centimetre-scale measurements of snowpack stratigraphy and bulk layer properties. Single vertical profiles of snowpack properties seldom captured the complex local variability influencing near-nadir radar surface scattering. We discuss implications of scaling in-situ measurements for snow radiative transfer modelling and evaluation of airborne microwave remote sensing of snow.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S002214301600099X/type/journal_articleradarremote sensingsnow microstructuresnow stratigraphyspatial variability |
| spellingShingle | N. RUTTER H.-P. MARSHALL K. TAPE R. ESSERY J. KING Impact of spatial averaging on radar reflectivity at internal snowpack layer boundaries Journal of Glaciology radar remote sensing snow microstructure snow stratigraphy spatial variability |
| title | Impact of spatial averaging on radar reflectivity at internal snowpack layer boundaries |
| title_full | Impact of spatial averaging on radar reflectivity at internal snowpack layer boundaries |
| title_fullStr | Impact of spatial averaging on radar reflectivity at internal snowpack layer boundaries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of spatial averaging on radar reflectivity at internal snowpack layer boundaries |
| title_short | Impact of spatial averaging on radar reflectivity at internal snowpack layer boundaries |
| title_sort | impact of spatial averaging on radar reflectivity at internal snowpack layer boundaries |
| topic | radar remote sensing snow microstructure snow stratigraphy spatial variability |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S002214301600099X/type/journal_article |
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