| Abstract | The presence of snow cover affects the regional energy and water balance, thus having a significant impact on the global climate system. Temporal knowledge of the onset of snow melt and snow water
equivalent values are important variables in the prediction of flooding and water resource applications such as reservoir management and agricultural activities. Microwave remote sensing techniques have been demonstrated to be effective for
monitoring snow pack parameters (areal extent, depth, water equivalent, wet/dry state). Microwave sensors have all weather imaging capabilities and are sensitive to changes in the dielectric constant within a snow pack. Coincident airborne
polarimetric C-band SAR and microwave radiometer data at 19, 37, and 85 GHz were collected on December 1, 1997, March 6, 1998, and March 12, 1998, over the study are in Eastern Ontario, Canada. Field measurements of snow pack properties and weather
conditions were gathered along flight lines on bare agriculture fields during each airborne data acquisition. The multi-temporal, multi-sensor data were analyzed with respect to changes in the SAR polarimetric signatures and microwave brightness
temperatures as a function of changing snow pack parameters. This paper will present the results of the investigation comparing SAR and passive microwave values of derived snow parameters. This research initiative is a collaborative investigation
between Atmospheric Environment Service (AES) and the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS). |