Impact of Ice, Snow, Wind, and Rain on Swot Water Detection over Canadian Lakes During Cal/Val

The SWOT satellite is a near-nadir Ka-band interferometric radar, capable of monitoring water bodies larger than 6 ha. Launched in December 2022, the satellite was in a calibration/validation orbit until July 2023, where it acquired measurements every day over certain regions. Canadian lakes were ice-covered at the start of the calibration period, offering the opportunity to study the Ka-band backscatter in the presence of ice and snow. The SWOT signal is also affected when the water surface is very smooth (e.g. in the absence of wind), or attenuated by heavy precipitation. These preliminary results demonstrate for the first time the impact of ice, snow, wind, and rain on the detection of water bodies by the SWOT satellite signal.