High Resolution Three-Dimensional Imaging of Sea Ice using Ground-Based Tomographic SAR Data

Abstract:
In this paper we present experimental results relative to the vertical structure of snow covered sea ice, sensed with Xband microwaves in a tomographic configuration at two different polarizations. The available data are from a Ground-Based SAR campaign carried out by a team from the IETR, University of Rennes 1 in March 2013, over Kattfjord, Tromsø, Norway, in collaboration with members of the EO lab at University of Tromsø. Direct imaging of the vertical structures of the snow and ice layers is achieved by focusing the signal from a 2D synthetic array in the 3D space. The effect of propagation velocity in the focusing process is investigated. Tomograms at two different polarizations, VV and HV, are considered and compared. The results in both cases reveal a strong response from sea ice.