A broad spectral, interdisciplinary investigation of the electromagnetic properties of sea ice

This paper highlights the interrelationship of research completed by a team of investigators and presented in the several individual papers comprising this Special Section on the Office of Naval Research Sponsored Sea Ice Electromagnetic Accelerated Research Initiative. The objectives of the initiative were to: understand the mechanisms and processes that link the morphological and physical properties of sea ice to its electromagnetic characteristics; develop and verify predictive models for the interaction of visible, infrared and microwave radiation with sea ice; and to develop and verify inverse scattering techniques applicable to problems involving the interaction of EM radiation with sea ice. Guiding principles for the program were that all EM data be taken with concurrent physical property data (e.g., salinity, density, roughness, etc) and that broad spectral data be acquired in as nearly a simultaneous fashion as possible. Over 30 investigators participated in laboratory, field and modeling studies that spanned the electromagnetic spectrum from radio to ultraviolet wavelengths. An interdisciplinary approach that brought together sea ice physicists, remote sensing experts (in clcctromagnctic nwasurcmcnts). tind forwurd and inverse modelers (primarily ma[henmticians and EM theorists ) was a hallmark of the program. Along with describing results from cxpcrinwnts and modeling efforts. possible paradigms for using broad spectral Ma in developing algorithms for analyzing remote sensing dutti in terms of icc concentration, age, type, and possibly thickness are hrietly discussed.