Analysis of Radar Backscattering from First-Year Sea Ice With C-Shaped Profiles

It is well known that first-year sea ice may have a C-shaped salinity profile. To examine the sensitivity of the radar backscattering to the salinity profile variations, the backscattering from sea ice with a few simulated C-shaped salinity profiles are calculated based on a numerical scattering model. It is found that the radar backscattering is not sensitive to the salinity of sea ice at both C and L bands. The radar wave may penetrate deep into the sea ice, but difficult to sense the variations of the salinity profiles.