| Paper: | WE-P2.2 |
| Session: | Cryosphere Applications of Radiometry I |
| Time: | Wednesday, March 28, 15:00 - 15:20 |
| Presentation: |
Oral
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| Topic: |
Snow, ice and oceans: |
| Title: |
The Ultra-Wideband Software Defined Microwave Radiometer (UWBRAD) for Ice Sheet Subsurface Temperature Sensing: Results from 2017 Campaigns |
| Authors: |
Joel Johnson; The Ohio State University | | |
| | Mark Andrews; The Ohio State University | | |
| | Kenneth Jezek; The Ohio State University | | |
| | Alexandra Bringer; The Ohio State University | | |
| | Hongkun Li; The Ohio State University | | |
| | Caglar Yardim; The Ohio State University | | |
| | Oguz Demir; The Ohio State University | | |
| | Chi-Chih Chen; The Ohio State University | | |
| | Domenic Belgiovane; The Ohio State University | | |
| | Julie Miller; The Ohio State University | | |
| | Vladimir Leuski; Microwave Radiometers and Antennas, LLC | | |
| | Michael Durand; The Ohio State University | | |
| | Yuna Duan; The Ohio State University | | |
| | Giovanni Macelloni; Institute of Applied Physics (IFAC) | | |
| | Marco Brogioni; Institute of Applied Physics (IFAC) | | |
| | Shurun Tan; University of Michigan | | |
| | Leung Tsang; University of Michigan | | |
| Abstract: |
The Ultra-Wideband Software-Defined Microwave Radiometer (UWBRAD) was developed under the support of NASA’s Instrument Incubator Program to measure Earth brightness temperatures in the range 500-2000 MHz. UWBRAD uses 12 ~ 88 MHz channels in this region, and includes software-defined processing to address the challenge of radio frequency interference (RFI). Key science goals for UWBRAD include the use of 500-2000 MHz brightness temperatures to infer information on the subsurface temperatures within ice sheets, as well as sea ice thickness, sea salinity, and other properties.
UWBRAD was deployed in airborne observations of the Greenland ice sheet in September 2016 and 2017. Results from the September 2017 campaigns will be focused on in the presentation. UWBRAD was operated aboard a DC-3 aircraft from Kenn Borek Airlines, Inc., and observed Earth brightness temperatures during a transit flight from Calgary, Canada to Thule Air Force Base, Greenland. Observed regions during the transit flight include northern Canada, sea scenes, and the Devon ice cap. Two science flights were conducted in Greenland. The first departed from Thule to observe sea ice in the Nares Strait, followed by a return path to Thule via the Camp Century borehole site. The second transited from Thule to the Camp Century, NEEM, and NGRIP sites before arrival at Kangerlussuaq airport. The return transit flight included overflight of the Sukkertoppen ice cap, additional sea surface observations, and measurements over the BERMS forest site in Canada. Approximately 25 hours of instrument observations were acquired.
Information on the properties of observed 500-2000 MHz brightness temperature spectra will be provided, as well as progress in use of the measurements to determine ice sheet subsurface temperature profiles. Initial results on the use of UWBRAD measurements to infer properties of sea ice and sea salinity will also be presented. Properties of the RFI observed will be discussed, as well as the performance of UWBRAD’s RFI processor in facilitating brightness temperature observations in the presence of RFI. The presentation will conclude with recommendations regarding continued science applications for 500-2000 MHz brightness temperature measurements and for potential use of these concepts in future airborne and spaceborne missions.
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