Antarctic snow-covered sea ice topography derivation from TanDEM-X using polarimetric SAR interferometry

Abstract. Single-pass interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) enables the possibility for sea ice topographic retrieval despite inherent dynamics of ice. InSAR digital elevation models (DEMs) are measuring scattering center height. The height bias induced by penetration electromagnetic waves into snow and leads to inaccuracies DEM, especially thick deformed with cover. In this study, an difference between satellite-measured DEM airborne-measured optical is observed from a coordinated campaign over western Weddell Sea in Antarctica. objective correct generate precise map single-pass data. With potential retrieving geophysical information polarimetric-interferometry (Pol-InSAR) technique, two-layer-plus-volume model proposed represent vertical structure its mechanisms. Furthermore, simplified version derived, allow inversion limited priori knowledge, which then applied scheme. experiments performed across four polarizations: HH, VV, Pauli 1 (HH + VV), 2 − VV). model-retrieved performance validated optically derived topography, showing excellent root-mean-square error as low 0.26 m Pauli-1 VV) polarization.