Polarimetric properties of simulated sea ice with special focus on property retrieval and important scattering processes

To improve the ability to retrieve geophysical properties using remote sensing sensors and model the electromagnetic properties of sea ice, an intensive, well-integrated multidisciplinary program is sponsored by the Office of Naval Research to study simulated and natural sea ice of a variety of forms. As part of this effort the author has made polarimetric scattering measurements over a wide range of micro- and millimeter-wave frequencies (e.g. 0.5 to 95 GHz) and incidence angles (0/spl deg/ to 70/spl deg/ with fine angle resolution). An additional aspect of these measurements is that they have been made with fine temporal resolution to allow correlation with small changes in ice sheet properties, in the air-ice interface, and meteorological properties. Results from this work are used to demonstrate how polarimetric radar data at a single frequency, or a suite of frequencies may be used to assess sea ice age, state, and thickness.