Multi-modal SAR reveals complex scattering structure in the ablation zone of the Greenland ice sheet

Abstract

Nowadays, remote sensing methods have emerged as an important resource for monitoring polar regions. Microwaves penetrate into dry snow and ice, rendering SAR measurements highly responsive to the underlying structure of glaciers and ice sheets. Based on the analysis of an experimental airborne dataset in the ablation zone of the Russel glacier in Greenland, an interesting and complex scattering pattern with an unknown glaciological origin is investigated. Polarimetric, interferometric and tomographic analyses of the SAR data are combined to gain an understanding of this scattering pattern. In the long term, an improved understanding of the glaciology of the research area combined with a relationship to its scattering properties in SAR data could lead to better observations and modeling of ice dynamics and mass balances.