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Abstract:
Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR-E) snow-depth data for Antarctic sea ice are compared with ship-based visual observations of snow depth, ice type and ridged-ice fraction, and
with satellite C-band and Ku-band radar backscatter observations for two ship cruises into the Weddell
Sea (ISPOL 2004–05, WWOS 2006) and one cruise into the Bellingshausen Sea (SIMBA 2007) during late
winter/spring. Most (>75%) AMSR-E and ship-based snow-depth observations agree within 0.2m during
WWOS and SIMBA. Remaining observations indicate substantial underestimations of snow depths by
AMSR-E data. These underestimations tend to increase with the ridged-ice fraction for WWOS and
SIMBA. In areas with large snow depths, a combination of relatively stable low C-band radar backscatter
and variable Ku-band radar backscatter is associated with undeformed first-year ice and may indicate
snow metamorphism at this time of year during SIMBA. In areas with small snow depths, a combination
of relatively stable low Ku-band radar backscatter, high C-band radar backscatter and low C-band radar
backscatter standard deviations is associated with rough first-year ice during SIMBA. This information
can help to better understand causes of the observed AMSR-E snow-depth bias during late-winter/spring
conditions with decreasing average snow depth and to delineate areas where this bias occurs.
