MAPPING THE THICKNESS OF ARCTIC SEA ICE FROM INFRARED SATELLITE IMAGERY

Abstract

A theoretical model of the correlation between (1) the three-dimensional surface representing the variation in temperature of the sea ice cover and (2) the surface representing the variation in ice thickness is presented. This model is used to develop a method for automated determination and mapping of the thickness of sea ice based on relative temperature measurements on IR satellite images. Comparisons of the results are made with data obtained from synchronous measurements of ice thickness from icebreakers and at onshore meteorological stations.