A surface and volume scattering retracking algorithm for ice sheet satellite altimetry

Author

Davis, Curt H.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Missouri Univ., Independence, MO, USA

Volume

31

Issue

4

fYear

1993

fDate

7/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

811

Lastpage

818

Abstract

An algorithm based on a combined surface and volume scattering model that is used to retrack individual altimeter waveforms from the ice sheets is developed. Because the combined model is nonlinear, an iterative least-squares procedure is used to fit the combined model to the return waveforms. This retracking algorithm can be used to assess the accuracy of elevations produced by current retracking algorithms, which do not account for subsurface volume scattering. This is extremely important if repeated altimeter elevation measurements are to be used to accurately detect changes in the mass balance of the ice sheets. In addition, by analyzing the distribution of the model parameters over large portions of the ice sheet, quantitative estimates of regional and seasonal variations in the near-surface properties of the ice sheets can be obtained

Keywords

glaciology; hydrological techniques; remote sensing by radar; altitude; backscatter; combined model; elevation; elevations; geophysics; height; hydrology; ice sheet satellite altimetry; iterative least-squares procedure; measurement; nonlinear; radar method; remote sensing; retrack; scattering model; surface scattering; technique; volume scattering retracking algorithm; waveforms; Altimetry; Antarctica; Extraterrestrial measurements; Ice surface; Iterative algorithms; Ocean temperature; Radar scattering; Satellites; Sea surface; Surface waves;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0196-2892

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/36.239903

Filename

239903