EVALUATE THE APPLICATION OF ERTS-A DATA FOR DETECTING AND MAPPING SEA ICE

The author has identified the following significant results. Generally good agreement has been observed between the location of ice edges and ice concentrations as indicated on aerial observation charts and as mapped from ERTS-1 imagery. Moreover, ice surface features reported to be ridges and thaw holes are readily detected in the ERTS-1 imagery. Reported hummocks, puddles, frozen puddles, and rafted ice are not as readily detected in the imagery, although brightness variations on some ice surfaces can be distinguished, thereby suggesting their presence. In the ERTS-1 imagery, although dark new ice and nilas are difficult to detect, other younger forms of ice can be mapped and can usually be distinguished from older ice because of their lower, more uniform reflectance. A preliminary examination of the initial sample of ERTS-1 imagery collected during the spring, during the season of maximum ice extent, indicates several ice features of interest. Compact pack ice can be distinguished from coastal fast ice, and many leads can be mapped, even in the mid-Beaufort Sea. Several leads have distinct variation in reflectance. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Environmental Research & Technology, Incorporated

  429 Marrett Road
  Lexington, MA  United States  02173
• Authors:
  • Barnes, J C
• Publication Date: 1973-5-24

Media Info

• Pagination: 9 p.
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: 4

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Detectors; Ice; Ice formations; Identification systems; Mapping; Pack ice; Scanners; Sea ice
• Identifier Terms: U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ice detection
• Geographic Terms: Arctic Regions
• Old TRIS Terms: Ice hummocks; Ice identification; Ice mapping; Ice ridge distribution; Multispectral band scanners; Return beam vidicons
• Subject Areas: Design; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00048093
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: ERT-P-408-5 Prog Rpt
• Contract Numbers: NAS5-21802
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 14 1973 12:00AM