Remote Sensing Validation Experiment

Project aim

The Earths climate system is profoundly affected by interactions between sea ice, ocean and atmosphere at high southern latitudes. In order to better model and understand these complex interactions, improved data are required on large-scale sea-ice thickness, motion, type and concentration, as well as surface albedo, temperature and snow cover thickness. With its ability to monitor vast regions in a timely, repetitive and cost-effective manner, satellite remote sensing is a key tool in global climate and climate-change research. A number of important new satellite sensors have recently been launched or are scheduled for launch, but so far, little work has been carried out to validate key satellite-derived Antarctic sea-ice geophysical products. The need for adequate validation is critical. This program will: carry out a detailed validation of important satellite data in the sea-ice zone in austral spring (when uncertainties in algorithm performance are largest); use these improved data, together with in situ data (including wave-ice interaction measurements), to improve our understanding of air-sea-ice interaction processes in the region in spring, with an overall view to developing a better understanding of the rapid and large-scale seasonal meltback of the ice cover. Our current knowledge is largely limited to information inferred from large-scale satellite data, unconfirmed by surface observations; develop electromagnetic induction techniques for measurement of Antarctic sea ice thickness; and carry out biogeochemical analyses on snow and sea ice samples to a) determine the concentration, speciation and bio-availability of iron, and b) better understand processes associated with sea ice biota as they govern emissions of marine gases of climatic significance.