ERS-1 SAR analysis of Arctic ice concentration during the melt season

Ice concentration can be derived with high accuracy (a few percent) from SAR images using the so called “global” ice concentration algorithm. The concentration error increases if surface properties change systematically, e.g. due to temperature or wind shifts. Properties of importance for the accuracy of the algorithm have been studied over an Arctic ice area in August 1991. The algorithm has also been compared with field observations. It is found that ice concentration can be obtained with a precision of a few percent over areas of the same size as the resolution cells of passive radiometry. Information from high resolution SAR images is expected to improve passive microwave radiometry