Retrieval of snow and sea ice parameters from SSM/I data

Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) data was used to verify existing inversion algorithms for retrieval of snow and sea ice parameters, and to develop algorithms using higher frequency channels (85 GHz). The test sites were located in Finland (snow studies) and in the Baltic Sea (sea ice studies). For snow studies, the linear correlation values between satellite-derived and ground-measured snow water equivalent values using the SPD-algorithm (Spectral and Polarization Difference) exceeded 0.80. A higher frequency algorithm was developed and tested, and proved to be useful with equal or better correlation for snow water equivalent values <50 mm. For sea ice studies, the developed 85 GHz algorithm gave slightly better correlation values than the NASATEAM algorithm, used as a reference. All results are preliminary, and should be verified with more higher frequency data