7 research outputs found
Ice Sheet and Sea Ice Ultrawideband Microwave radiometric Airborne eXperiment (ISSIUMAX) in Antarctica: first results from Terra Nova Bay
An airborne microwave wide-band radiometer (500–2000 MHz) was operated for the first time in Antarctica to better understand the emission properties of sea ice, outlet glaciers and the interior ice sheet from Terra Nova Bay to Dome C. The different glaciological regimes were revealed to exhibit unique spectral signatures in this portion of the microwave spectrum. Generally, the brightness temperatures over a vertically homogeneous ice sheet are warmest at the lowest frequencies, consistent with models that predict that those channels sensed the deeper, warmer parts of the ice sheet. Vertical heterogeneities in the ice property profiles can alter this basic interpretation of the signal. Spectra along the lengths of outlet glaciers were modulated by the deposition and erosion of snow, driven by strong katabatic winds. Similar to previous experiments in Greenland, the brightness temperatures across the frequency band were low in crevasse areas. Variations in brightness temperature were consistent with spatial changes in sea ice type identified in satellite imagery and in situ ground-penetrating radar data. The results contribute to a better understanding of the utility of microwave wide-band radiometry for cryospheric studies and also advance knowledge of the important physics underlying existing L-band radiometers operating in space.</p
Analysis of ice-sheet temperature profiles from low-frequency airborne remote sensing
Abstract
Ice internal temperature and basal geothermal heat flux (GHF) are analyzed along a study line in northwestern Greenland. The temperatures were obtained from a previously reported inversion of airborne microwave brightness-temperature spectra. The temperatures vary slowly through the upper ice sheet and more rapidly near the base increasing from ~259 K near Camp Century to values near the melting point near NorthGRIP. The flow-law rate factor is computed from temperature data and analytic expressions. The rate factor increases from ~1 × 10−8 to 8 × 10−8 kPa−3 a−1 along the line. A laminar flow model combined with the depth-dependent rate factor is used to estimate horizontal velocity. The modeled surface velocities are about a factor of 10 less than interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) surface velocities. The laminar velocities are fitted to the InSAR velocities through a factor of 8 enhancement of the rate factor for the lower 25% of the column. GHF values retrieved from the brightness temperature spectra increase from ~55 to 84 mW m−2 from Camp Century to NorthGRIP. A strain heating correction improves agreement with other geophysical datasets near Camp Century and NEEM but differ by ~15 mW m−2 in the central portion of the profile
Antarctic geothermal heat flow: future research directions
Antarctic geothermal heat flow (GHF) affects the ice sheet temperature, determining how it slides and internally deforms, as well as the rheological behaviour of the lithosphere. However, GHF remains poorly constrained, with few borehole-derived estimates, and there are large discrepancies in currently available glaciological and geophysical estimates. This SCAR White Paper details current methods, discusses their challenges and limitations, and recommends key future directions in GHF research. We highlight the timely need for a more multidisciplinary and internationally-coordinated approach to tackle this complex problem
Geothermal heat flow in Antarctica: Current and future directions
Antarctic geothermal heat flow (GHF) affects the temperature of the ice sheet, determining its ability to slide and internally deform, as well as the behaviour of the continental crust. However, GHF remains poorly constrained, with few and sparse local, borehole-derived estimates and large discrepancies in the magnitude and distribution of existing continent-scale estimates from geophysical models. We review the methods to estimate GHF, discussing the strengths and limitations of each approach; compile borehole and probe-derived estimates from measured temperature profiles; and recommend the following future directions. (1) Obtain more borehole-derived estimates from the subglacial bedrock and englacial temperature profiles. (2) Estimate GHF from inverse glaciological modelling, constrained by evidence for basal melting and englacial temperatures (e.g. using microwave emissivity). (3) Revise geophysically derived GHF estimates using a combination of Curie depth, seismic, and thermal isostasy models. (4) Integrate in these geophysical approaches a more accurate model of the structure and distribution of heat production elements within the crust and considering heterogeneities in the underlying mantle. (5) Continue international interdisciplinary communication and data access
Electromagnetic Scattering in Microwave Remote Sensing and Fluctuation Electrodynamics
Application of the electromagnetic scattering theory to the physical models of microwave remote sensing of natural targets including but not limited to polar ice sheets, soil surface, vegetated area, etc. and fluctuation electrodynamics as well as microwave resonators are presented in this thesis. Advancement of the remote sensing technology led the radar and radiometry measurement to a level of accuracy that correct interpretation of the measurement outcomes and relating those to the unknown parameters under study requires the physical models that are capable of resembling the real life situation as close and accurate as possible. Along with accuracy, the model should be simple enough for the purpose of real time implementation. This is where the analytical solution of the physical problem manifest itself against pure numerical methods in terms of the fast evaluation and more importantly the insight that is not available in a numerical approach. Scattering from random rough interferences is studied throughout the first part of the thesis. Also, beyond the small perturbation method, the T-matrix method is also studied as an alternative approach that works for larger surface heights. Beside these, an alternative partially coherent approach is also introduced to significantly reduce the computational cost of the problem of layered media with random permittivity profile. The finite coherency length of the propagating wave inside the layered media is considered to divide the layered media into smaller blocks and then combine the block's responses afterward. In the second part we consider fast and broad band computation of the Green's function inside the cavity of irregular shape. Conventional way of computing the Green's function of an irregular shaped cavity is the numerical methods such as surface integral equation or finite element methods which can obtain the response at single frequency with intensive computational cost. The proposed method utilizes the imaginary wave number extraction of the Green's function from itself to develop a broad band and at the same time fast converging hybrid spatial-spectral expansion to achieve a highly accurate result for the Green's function whereas in computing the Green's function of cavity using numerical methods, a fine sweep over the frequency band is required to capture individual resonance line, the broad band solution provide the solution thousand times faster than the competitor methods. The last part of the thesis includes a classical electromagnetic treatment of the Casimir self-stress on nano tubes. Although the Casimir force on the parallel plates can be regularized by throwing away the bulk part of the full Green’s function, it is shown that such a regularization does not remove divergence of zero-point energy and the final stress is computed by applying further regularizations.PHDElectrical EngineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155155/1/mrsanam_1.pd
Basal thermal state of the Greenland Ice Sheet
Understanding the basal thermal state of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) has important implications for modeling its ongoing contribution to global sea level. Apart from removing paleoclimate information from basal layers, basal melt affects the friction at the ice-bedrock interface which has important consequences in terms of ice discharge to the surrounding oceans. The basal thermal state of the GrIS, however, is poorly constrained by observations. The paucity of information is mostly due to expensive and logistically complicated deep-ice drilling campaigns. As a result, only a handful of deep ice cores are available in the entire GrIS. Because of the significance of the basal thermal condition of the GrIS and the difficulties associated with obtaining direct observations from the bed, there is a need for reliable numerical modeling studies, as well as remote sensing techniques. Perhaps the most important, yet least-known, thermal boundary condition for modeling the basal temperature of the GrIS is the spatial distribution of geothermal heat flux (GHF) beneath the ice. Several models have aimed at estimating the GHF distribution in Greenland. However, the majority of these GHF models sharply contradict each other and cannot reproduce the temperature measurements at ice cores, when implemented in numerical ice sheet models. This research improves our understanding of the basal thermal condition of the GrIS from three perspectives. First, it reveals the shortcomings of an analytical temperature solution for ice sheets that has been frequently used since the 1950s, and proposes a new solution to resolve the old solution’s shortcomings. Second, in contrast with other GHF maps, this study derives a new GHF map for Greenland that honors geologic and geophysical properties, as well as ice core information. And finally, this study aims at reconciling remotely-sensed observations of basal water with the current GHF models in Greenland
Earth remote sensing with SMOS, Aquarius and SMAP missions
The first three of a series of new generation satellites operating at L-band microwave frequencies have been launch in the last decade. L-band is particularly sensitive to the presence of water content in the scene under observation, being considered the optimal bandwidth for measuring the Earth's global surface soil moisture (SM) over land and sea surface salinity (SSS) over oceans.
Monitoring these two essential climate variables is needed to further improve our understanding of the Earth's water and energy cycles. Additionally, remote sensing at L-band has been proved useful for monitoring the stability in ice sheets and measuring sea ice thickness.
The ESA's Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS, 2009-2017) is the first mission specifically launched to monitor SM and SSS. It carries on-board a novel synthetic aperture radiometer with multi-angular and full-polarization capabilities. NASA's Aquarius (2011-2015) was the second mission, devoted to SSS monitoring with a combined real aperture radiometer/scatterometer system
that allows correcting for sea surface roughness. NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP, 2015-2018) is the second mission dedicated to measure SM. It carries on-board a real aperture full-polarimetric radiometer and a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for enhanced spatial resolution and freeze/thaw detection.
This Ph.D. Thesis is focused on analyzing the geophysical information that can be obtained from L-band SMOS, Aquarius and SMAP observations. The research activities are structured as follows: -Inter-comparison of radiometer brightness temperatures at selected targets. A novel methodology to measure the consistency between SMOS and Aquarius radiometric data over the entire dynamic range of observations (land, ice and ocean) is proposed. It allows detecting spatial/temporal differences or biases without latitudinal limitations neither cross-overs. This is a necessary step to combine observations from different instruments in a long term dataset for environmental, meteorological, hydrological or climatological studies.
-Ice thickness effects on passive remote sensing of Antarctic continental ice. The relationship between Antarctic ice thickness spatial variations and changes detected by SMOS and Aquarius measurements is explored. The emissivity of Antarctica is analyzed to disentangle the role of the geophysical contributions (snow layers at different depths and subglacial lakes) to the observed signal.
The stability of the L-band signal in the East Antarctic Plateau, calibration/validation site for microwave satellite missions, is assessed.
-Microwave/optical synergy for multi-scale soil moisture sensing. The relationship of SM and land surface temperature (LST) dynamics is evaluated to better understand the fundamental SM-LST link through evapotranspiration and thermal inertia physical processes. A new approach to measure the critical soil moisture from time-series of spaceborne SM and LST is proposed. The synergistic use of SMOS SM and remotely sensed LST for refining SM disaggregation algorithms is also analyzed.
-Comparison of passive and active microwave vegetation parameters. Recent research has shown that microwave vegetation opacity, sensitive to biomass and water content, and albedo, related to canopy structure, can be retrieved from passive L-band observations. The relationships between these two parameters and radar-derived vegetation descriptors have been explored using
airborne observations from the SMAP Validation Experiment 2012 (SMAPVEX12). The obtained relations could allow for improved SM retrievals in active-passive systems, and also to estimate the vegetation properties at high resolution using SAR observations.
The Ph.D. Thesis has been developed within the activities of the Barcelona Expert Centre (BEC). The presented results contribute to the use of L-band remote sensing in different scientific disciplines such as climate, cryosphere, hydrology and ecology.Els primers tres d'una sèrie de satèl·lits de nova generació funcionant a la banda L han sigut llançats a l'última dècada. La banda L es molt sensible a la presència d'aigua a l'escena observada, sent considerada òptima per mesurar la humitat del sòl (SM) i la salinitat del mar (SSS) de manera global a la superfÃcie de la Terra. Monitoritzar aquestes dues variables climà tiques essencials es necessari per millorar el nostre coneixement dels cicles de l'aigua i l'energia. La teledetecció a banda L també ha sigut útil per monitoritzar l'estabilitat de les capes de gel i mesurar el gruix de gel marÃ. La missió Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS, 2009-2017) de l'ESA és la primera especÃficament llançada per monitoritzar SM i SSS. Porta un nou radiòmetre d'apertura sintètica amb capacitat multiangular i polarització completa. La missió Aquarius (2011-2015) de la NASA va ser la segona, dedicada a monitoritzar SSS amb un sistema de radiòmetre/escateròmetre d’apertura real que permet corregir la rugositat de la superfÃcie del mar. La missió Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP, 2015-2018) de la NASA és la segona dedicada a mesurar SM. Porta un radiòmetre d'apertura real i polarització completa i un radar d'apertura sintètica (SAR) per una millor resolució espaial i detecció de congelació/descongelació. Aquesta tesi està enfocada en analitzar la informació geofÃsica que pot obtenir-se de les observacions a banda L d'SMOS, Aquarius i SMAP. La seva investigació està estructurada com: -Intercomparació de temperatures de brillantor en zones seleccionades. Es proposa un nou mètode per mesurar la consistència entre les dades radiomètriques d'SMOS i Aquarius sobre el rang dinà mic complet d'observacions (terra, gel, oceà ). Això permet detectar diferències espaials/temporals o biaixos sense limitacions latitudinals ni creuaments. Aquest pas es necessari per combinar observacions de diferents instruments en un llarg conjunt de dades per estudis mediambientals, hidrològics o climatològics. -Efecte de gruix de gel en teledetecció de gel continental a l'Antà rtida. S'explora la relació entre les variacions espaials del gruix de gel antà rtic i els canvis detectats a les mesures d'SMOS i Aquarius. L'emissivitat de l'Antà rtida es analitzada per discernir el rol de les contribucions geofÃsiques (capes de gel a diferents profunditats i llacs subglacials) al senyal observat. S'avalua l'estabilitat del senyal a banda L sobre la zona est de l'altiplà antà rtic, lloc per calibratge/validació de satèl·lits de microones. -Sinèrgia de microones/òptic per teledetecció de SM multiescala. S'avalua la correlació entre la SM i la temperatura de la superfÃcie del sòl (LST) per entendre millor la relació SM-LST a través de processos fÃsics d'evapotranspiració i inèrcia tèrmica. Es proposa un nou mètode per mesurar la humitat crÃtica utilitzant sèries temporals de SM i LST de satèl·lit. S'analitza l'ús de la SM de SMOS amb la LST de teledetecció per refinar algorismes de desagregació de SM. -Comparació de parà metres passius i actius de microones relatius a la vegetació. Recent investigació ha mostrat que l'opacitat, sensible a la biomassa i el contingut d'aigua, i l'albedo, relacionat amb l'estructura, poden ser recuperats d'observacions passives a banda L. S'exploren les relacions entre aquests dos parà metres i estimadors de vegetació derivats de radar utilitzant les observacions d'avió de l'experiment de validació d'SMAP 2012 (SMAPVEX12). Les relacions obtingudes podrien permetre millors recuperacions de SM en sistemes actius/passius i estimar les propietats de la vegetació a alta resolució utilitzant mesures de SAR. La tesi s'ha desenvolupat dins les activitats del Barcelona Expert Centre (BEC). Els resultats presentats contribueixen a l'ús de la banda L a diferents disciplines cientÃfiques com la climatologia, la criosfera, la hidrologia i l'ecologia