•NASA/GSFC code 614.6 (Dr. Edward Kim) the University of Melbourne (Dr. Jeff Walker, project PI & formerly code 614.3), and the University of Newcastle (Dr. Jetse Kalma) have developed a project that is the new Polarimetric L-band Multibeam Radiometer (PLMR), a state-of-the-art airborne passive microwave imager for soil moisture and ocean salinity applications (photo, next slide-lower right).

•There are 3 airborne campaigns planned in Australia (map, lower left) during 2005-06, prinicpally for soil moisture. The objectives include validation of soil moisture retrieval algorithms for AMSR-E, SMOS, and Hydros as well as developing downscaling and assimilation techniques to obtain high resolution retrievals from low resolution space-borne measurements (figures, upper left). Dr. Kim will be participating in the first campaign in May 2005.

New L-band Imaging Radiometer takes to the Air Down UnderEdward Kim, Instrumentation Sciences Branch,

Hydrospheric & Biospheric Sciences Laboratory, NASA GSFC (edward.j.kim@nasa.gov)

Terms:AMSR-E--Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOSSMOS--Soil Moisture and Ocean SalinityHydros--Hydrosphere States MissionEOS--Earth Observing System

New L-band Imaging Radiometer takes to the Air Down Under

PLMR flies on an inexpensive light aircraft, a Diamond Eco-Dimona. At low altitude,

resolution can be 50 meters.

NASA/GSFC-inspired calibration target.

Three airborne campaigns are planned: soil moisture & salinity in May 2005, and soil moisture in Nov 2005 & 2006. Major objective: development and validation of passive microwave algorithms – AMSR-E/SMOS/ Hydros

Nov 2005

Nov 2006

May 2005

36km radiometer inverse

3km radar inverse

3km combinedretrieval

Error in 3km soil moisture content(Zhan et al)

Downscaling of Passive/Active derivedSoil moisture: Needs to be tested with

real data!

Australian Polarimetric L-band Multibeam Radiometer (PLMR) installed.

Each time series shows the ratios of MODIS/SeaWiFS derived global mean water-leaving radiances in the five common visible wavelengths. The "initial processing" shows what was coming out of the operational MODIS & SeaWiFS processing prior to the reprocessing in March. The MODIS calibration tables being used were not tracking the instrument performance adequately causing the rapid decrease in the ratios over time. The "reprocessing" graph shows the comparisons after correcting the MODIS calibration tables and applying a number of other improvements in the atmospheric correction algorithm (most algorithm revisions are applied to both sensors).

Gene Feldman, Ocean Sciences Branch, Hydrospheric & Biospheric Sciences Laboratory, NASA GSFC (gene.c.feldman@nasa.gov)

Results from MODIS/Aqua Reprocessing inMarch 2005

Results from MODIS/Aqua Reprocessing inMarch 2005

• SeaWiFS-MODIS/Aqua agreement to within 7% for global mean deep-water normalized water-leaving radiance retrievals (Lwn). Better for clear water.

Initial Processing ReprocessingRatios of Lwns: MODIS/SeaWiFS

Complex Permittivity of Antarctic Sea Ice

• Accurate interpretation of satellite passive microwave sea ice data requires the knowledge of the complex permittivity of the surface at appropriate frequencies.

• These figures provide the first measurements of Antarctic sea ice permittivity as a function of salinity, and reveals the potential of discriminating various types of seasonal sea ice based on their brine content.

Joey Comiso, Cryospheric Sciences Branch, Hydrospheric& Biospheric Sciences Laboratory, NASA GSFC (josefino.c.comiso@nasa.gov

Terms:

Permittivity-measure of the ability of a material to resist the formation of an electric field within it

ICESat - Insights on Ice ShelvesChristopher Shuman, Cryospheric Sciences Branch,

Hydrospheric & Biospheric Sciences Laboratory, NASA GSFC (christopher.a.shuman@nasa.gov)

ICESat Laser 2a data shows elevation distributions across Antarctica’s Ross Ice Shelf (see ICESat track map at lower left, previous slide).

Higher elevation ‘bulges’ (up to 100 m, in red) show the relatively greater ice flow associated with Ice Streams Whillans and Bindschadler (B and D, respectively) as well as lower elevations associated with ‘quiescent’ Ice Stream Kamb (C) around Siple Dome. Ice shelf thickness maps reveal the history of ice flow from the interior (Fahnestock et al., 2000).

ICESat Track 0351 (see small track map across Antarctica) was obtained through clear-skies and crosses from the Crary Ice Rise to the margin of the Ross Ice Shelf and then across Iceberg B-15A.

ICESat data can be ‘inverted’ via regression equation from Bamber and Bentley (1994) to estimate ice shelf thickness across the Ross Ice Shelf and Iceberg B-15A (see profile at top).

Variations in ice shelf thickness and the location of grounding lines are critical indicators of ice sheet stability through time.

Terms:

Quiescent-quiet, at rest, but not necessarily dormant, and having the potential for resumed activity

ICESat - Insights on Ice Shelves

Christopher A. ShumanICESat Deputy Project Scientist and Vijay P. Suchdeo - NVI Inc.

Box outlines area at left and profile above