A focused study on the C-band polarimetric scattering and physical characteristics of frost-flower-covered sea ice will be conducted at the Sea-ice Environmental Research Facility (SERF). Sea ice will be grown in the outdoor pool. Environmental conditions (air temperature, humidity, wind speed) will be monitored using automated sensors, while seawater and ice temperatures will be monitored through a series of thermocouples installed in the water column. C-band polarimetric scattering measurements will be conducted continuously at a range of incidence angles and surface roughness statistics will obtained at discrete times using a laser scanner system (LiDAR). Physical sampling will take place to characterize the thermodynamic and geophysical state.

The objectives are to 1) describe and quantify the physical characteristics of frost-flower-covered sea ice grown in the SERF pool, 2) to determine the polarimetric scattering characteristics of the frost-flower-covered sea ice, and 3) to examine the link between the sea ice physical properties and the radar measurements.

PI: Dustin Isfleifson, David Barber

Participants: Dustin Isleifson, David Barber, Nariman Firoozy, Ryan Galley, Jack Landy, David Binne

Fieldwork summary/photo blog