Using Quad-Pol and Single-Pol RADARSAT-2 Data for Monitoring Cold Alpine and Outlet Antarctic Glaciers

This paper presents some applications of the Maximum Likelihood (ML) texture tracking on displacement estimation of some alpine and antarctic glaciers surfaces. This method is adapted to the statistical characteristic of the new High Resolution (HR) Polarimetric SAR (PolSAR) data. The ML texture tracking method is firstly reminded and a statistical model of HR PolSAR data is explained. The main part of this paper is focused on the application of this method on glaciers monitoring. Three different glaciers have been chosen to test the algorithm: a cold alpine glacier, a temperate alpine glacier and an outlet antarctic glacier. The accuracy and limits of the method are highlighted in each case and results application is discussed.