Geophysical and atmospheric controls on Ku-, X- and C-band backscatter evolution from a saline snow cover on first-year sea ice from late-winter to pre-early melt

This study investigates changes in Ku-, X- and C-band microwave backscatter, co-polarized ratio and dual-frequency ratios, to changes in in-situ measured snow thermophysical properties, driven by surface radiation measurements, during a 7-day transition from late winter to pre-early melt on a highly saline snow cover on smooth first-year ice. A surface-based Ku-, X- and C-band microwave scatterometer system is used near coincident with in-situ...