Sensitivity, uncertainty analyses and algorithm selection for Sea Ice Thickness retrieval from Radar Altimeter

TL;DR

This paper evaluates and selects algorithms for Sea Ice Thickness retrieval from Radar Altimeter data by analyzing the impact of ice density and snow depth, using sensitivity analyses and independent observations.

Contribution

It introduces a new algorithm selection process for SIT retrieval from RA, incorporating sensitivity and uncertainty analyses with validation against independent data.

Findings

Half snow depth assumption underestimates SIT and SID

FD algorithm shows improved accuracy for SIT retrieval

Sensitivity to ice density significantly affects SIT estimates

Abstract

For accurate forecast of climate change, sea ice mass balance, ocean circulation and sea- atmosphere interactions is required to have long term records of Sea Ice Thickness (SIT). Different approaches have been applied to retrieve SIT and only satellite altimetry, radar or laser, have been proven to provide hemispheric estimates of SIT distribution over a sufficient thickness range. To simplify the algorithm for SIT retrieval from RA, constant ice density has been applied until now, which lead to different results for derived SIT and SID, in dependence on input information for sea ice density and snow depth. The purpose of this paper is to select algorithm for SID and SIT retrieval from RA, using statistical, sensitivity analyses and independent observations of SID from moored ULS, or on Submarine. The impact of ice density and snow depth on accuracy of the retrieved SIT has been examined, applying sensitivity analyses, and the propagated uncertainties have been summarised. Accuracy of algorithms for snow depth retrieval in the Arctic have been discussed and it is concluded that the assumption of half snow depth over First Year Ice (FYI) will lead always to underestimation of SIT and SID derived from RA and is not applicable for SIT retrieval from RA, using the equation for hydrostatic equilibrium. Algorithms for freeboard depended ice densities and SIT retrieval from RA have been developed and a FD algorithm for SIT retrieval from RA has been selected, based on statistical, sensitivity analyses and comparison with collocated observations of SID from moored ULS and on Submarine . ESA (ERS1, 2, ENVISAT, CryoSat2), future ESA (Sentinel) and NASA satellite and airborne missions, climate and numerical forecast programs will benefit the results of this paper.