Research of the Ice Surface with Melt and Freez Up Areas Using Scatterometer Data

The article considers a method for determining the vast areas of the ice surface that are subject to melting and freezing under the influence of weather conditions. Difference in the variability of the reflected electromagnetic signal from the surface of sea ice compared to the surface of open water is main factor. This position is also used for the task on determining the ice edge. Description of the complex parameter is given at the beginning of the article, according to which the ice distribution edge is determined and the calculation results are compared with the OSISAF product. A feature of the proposed approach is the use of scatterometer measurements without reference to data obtained from different satellite antennas. It was found that the proposed method of determination has certain sensitivity to the analyzed data when comparing the entire calculated area of the Arctic ice in the summer months with temperature maps. This expands the range of known methods for determining the vast areas of the ice surface that are subject to melting and freezing.