Azimuthal variations in polarimetric microwave measurements observed over Dome C, Antarctica

Parag S. Narvekar; Georg Heygster; Thomas J. Jackson; Rajat Bindlish; Li Li

doi:10.1117/12.693503

8 December 2006 Azimuthal variations in polarimetric microwave measurements observed over Dome C, Antarctica

Parag S. Narvekar, Georg Heygster, Thomas J. Jackson, Rajat Bindlish, Li Li

Proceedings Volume 6410, Microwave Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Environment V; 64100J (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.693503
Event: SPIE Asia-Pacific Remote Sensing, 2006, Goa, India

Abstract

WindSat is the first spaceborne fully polarimetric radiometer. It measures all four Stokes components; T_v (vertically polarized), T_h (horizontally), U (difference between polarizations at +45° and -45°) and V (difference right hand minus left hand circular polarized) and is primarily developed to retrieve wind speed and direction over ocean. Here we investigate the WindSat observations over Dome C, Antarctica, consisting of nearly flat terrain at about 3200 m above sea level. The seasonal cycles of T_v and T_h reflect the surface temperature cycle and the penetration depth decreasing with increasing frequency (6 to 37 GHz), while the difference T_v - T_h is nearly constant. The U and V signals are most pronounced in Austral winter (July-August). The differences between ascending and descending overpasses, corresponding to different azimuth observing directions, take values up to 1.2 K (U) and 3 K (V). Fitting the data of for and aft swath to a second order harmonic function of the azimuth angle reveals a consistent orientation of the structures at the used frequencies 10 and 37 GHz and Stokes components U and V in the direction of about 153° with respect to north, consistent with the small overall slope direction of the terrain (145°) and ERS scatterometer observations.

Citation Download Citation

Parag S. Narvekar, Georg Heygster, Thomas J. Jackson, Rajat Bindlish, and Li Li "Azimuthal variations in polarimetric microwave measurements observed over Dome C, Antarctica", Proc. SPIE 6410, Microwave Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Environment V, 64100J (8 December 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.693503

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