Summary

This paper introduces the recent activities of sea ice thickness observation around Syowa station (400E), East Antarctica, conducted by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE). Ship-borne video observations were conducted on 12 voyages from December 1987. Ship-borne observations of ice plus snow thickness using the electro-magnetic inductive instrument were conducted on 5 voyages from December 2000. These observations were mostly conducted in December and February when the icebreaker Shirase sails to and from Syowa station, respectively. These data revealed the inter-annual variability of the spatial distribution of the summer landfast ice in Lutzow-holm Bukta. In January 2006, JARE started the sledge-borne observations of sea ice thickness using the electro-magnetic inductive instrument to collect the landfast ice thickness data throughout a year. Some preliminary results are described in this paper. ENVISA T / ASAR images were acquired synchronously with the ship-based observations. A preliminary analysis showed the high correlation between ice thickness and the ratio of HH and VV backscatter coefficient.

Authors:Uto S. Shimoda H. Ushio S. Nakamura K. Published in: 2006 Category 3: Abstract Program area: Ice, Ocean, Atmosphere and Climate
Uto S., Shimoda H., Ushio S., Nakamura K. (2006) Recent activities of sea ice thickness observations by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expeditio, International Workshop on Antarctic Sea Ice Thickness. Program and Abstracts. Hobart, Australia 5-7 July 2006 17;
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