Enhanced resolution ERS-1 scatterometer imaging of Southern Hemisphere polar ice

The ERS-1 mission has generated a wealth of radar data over the Southern Hemisphere polar region. While the SAR mode of the ERS-1 Active Microwave Instrument (AMI) can provide only limited temporal and spatial coverage, the scatterometer mode provides frequent, global coverage, albeit at a much lower (50 km) resolution. By applying a recently developed algorithm for generating enhanced resolution scatterometer images, the ERS-1 scatterometer data can be used to study both sea ice and glacial ice to support SAR-based studies. This paper describes the algorithm and its application to ERS-1 scatterometer data with particular emphasis on sea ice. Selected images from a time series covering a complete annual cycle are presented