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Sea ice motion measurements from Seasat SAR imagesData from the Seasat synthetic aperture radar (SAR) experiment are analyzed in order to determine the accuracy of this information for mapping the distribution of sea ice and its motion. Data from observations of sea ice in the Beaufort Sea from seven sequential orbits of the satellite were selected to study the capabilities and limitations of spaceborne radar application to sea-ice mapping. Results show that there is no difficulty in identifying homologue ice features on sequential radar images and the accuracy is entirely controlled by the accuracy of the orbit data and the geometric calibration of the sensor. Conventional radargrammetric methods are found to serve well for satellite radar ice mapping, while ground control points can be used to calibrate the ice location and motion measurements in the cases where orbit data and sensor calibration are lacking. The ice motion was determined to be approximately 6.4 + or - 0.5 km/day. In addition, the accuracy of pixel location was found over land areas. The use of one control point in 10,000 sq km produced an accuracy of about + or 150 m, while with a higher density of control points (7 in 1000 sq km) the location accuracy improves to the image resolution of + or - 25 m. This is found to be applicable for both optical and digital data.
Document ID
19830043095
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Leberl, F.
(Technische Univ. Graz, Austria)
Raggam, J.
(Graz, Technische Universitaet, Graz Research Center Graz, Austria)
Elachi, C.
(California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA, United States)
Campbell, W. J.
(U.S. Geological Survey Tacoma, WA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
February 28, 1983
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 88
Subject Category
Oceanography
Accession Number
83A24313
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: BMFWF PROJECT NR, 6931/3-27
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS7-100
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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