Combined use of radar and microwave radiometer in classification of sea ice types

Data from the Helsinki University of Technology (HUT) airborne scatterometer HUTSCAT and the HUT airborne microwave radiometer were used to investigate classification of sea ice types in the Gulf of Bothnia. Scatterometer and radiometer measurements were carried out under three different snow/ice conditions: dry, wet and refrozen. Using the measured backscattering coefficients and brightness temperatures, classification of three ice types and open water was examined: new ice, close pack ice and compact pack ice.