Microwave emission from Antarctica and the calibration of low frequency space-borne radiometers

An experimental campaign will be carried out in Antarctica at Dome-C in 2005 to investigate low frequency microwave emission of snow pack and to evaluate the potential of Antarctic plateau to act as a calibrator for L-band satellite sensors such as SMOS and HYDROS. Simulations carried out by using a multi-layer electromagnetic model coupled with a glaciological model have shown very small variations (< 0.1K) of L-band emission during the yearly cycle, and confirmed that the low frequency microwave emission mostly comes from the deeper layers of ice.