On the estimation of snow water equivalent (SWE) using microwave radiometry over Arctic first-year sea ice

We present and compare the in situ physical, electrical and microwave emission properties of snow over smooth Arctic first-year sea ice for 19 sites. Physical processes creating the observed vertical patterns in the physical and electrical properties are discussed. An algorithm is then developed from the relationship between the SWE and the brightness temperature measured at 37 GHz (55°) H polarization, and the snow-ice interface temperature. The multiple regression between these variables is able to account for over 90% of the variability in the measured SWE. This algorithm is validated with a small in situ dataset collected in our 1999 field experiment.