Modelling of radar backscattering from low-salinity ice with ice ridges

Abstract

Radar backscattering from a snow-free ice surface characterized by an exponential correlation function is studied for conditions typical in the Baltic Sea. The C-band backscattering coefficient from first-year ice is normally found to be characterized primarily by the air-ice surface roughness. However, if the salinity and temperature are low, as in the Baltic Sea, both volume scattering and ice-water surface scattering might contribute. Even more important than scattering from the level ice is scattering from the ice ridges, and a simple approach is taken to characterize the properties of ice ridges and the corresponding scattering.