The design of a UAV mounted snow depth radar: Results of measurements on Antarctic sea ice

During the Antarctic summer of 2016, a series of experiments were undertaken on sea ice at McMurdo Sound to establish the design parameters for a UAV borne snow depth radar. These experiments comprised radar depth measurement at various locations, and measurement of the relative permittivity of snow. The radar design for future UAV mounting is dictated on one hand by dimensional and weight constraints and on the other by frequency range for resolution and loss. Radar measurements show that a compromise between the two requirements leads to an antenna operating over the range 1.5-4.5 GHz.