Lake Level Change From Satellite Altimetry Over Seasonally Ice-Covered Lakes in the Mackenzie River Basin

Variations in water levels of seasonally ice-covered subarctic lakes are indicators environmental and climatic change. Satellite altimetry enables remote sensing these lakes, but the lake phenology is problematic as radar reflection surfaces include water, snow, ice. Reflection from multiple gives rise to two-peak waveforms across lakes. Misinterpretation altimetric height has caused extracted be low compared with gauge data. In this study, a modified retracker used determine heights first subwaveform. Using in situ snow depth ice thickness, surface shown correspond closely snow/ice interface when frozen. The applied Great Bear Lake (GBL), Slave (GSL), Athabasca (ATL) Mackenzie River Basin for period 1992–2020. Standard deviations (Std) differences between Jason-2 data GBL GSL 0.06 m new methodology 0.11 0.08 m, respectively, using standard Ice retracker. With an Std levels, TOPEX/Poseidon less accurate than combined Jason missions (Std: 0.07 m).