Improvement of snow physical parameters retrieval using SAR data in the Arctic (Svalbard)

Abstract

Arctic snow cover dynamics offer a changing face in terms of temporal duration and water equivalent, due to recent climate change conditions (Callaghan et al., 2011; Lemke & Jacobi, 2012). Indeed, the Arctic is now experiencing some of the most rapid and severe climate change on earth. In this context, innovative and improved methods are helpful to enhance management of the snow-pack resource for climate research, hydrology and human activities. The characteristics of Arctic snow are different from “temperate” snow (i.e. the Alps), in terms of thickness, internal structure, thermal conductivity, and metamorphism. Ground observation often indicates wind slab at the snow surface, internal rounded grains, depth hoar at the bottom, and often internal ice layer or at the Interface with ground surface (Dominé et al., 2016; Gallet et al., 2017, for spring snow). This work is part of the “Precip-A2” project (OSUG, Grenoble-France), focusing on snow and its interaction with the atmosphere, especially in terms of chemistry, radiative processes and precipitation. The application site is the Brøgger peninsula, focused on Ny-Ålesund area, Svalbard, Norway (N 78°55’ / E 11° 55’). One sub-task of the Precip-A2 project is dedicated to X-band radar measurements (ground and spaceborne) to retrieve physical properties of arctic snow.