Satellite microwave radiometry of sea ice of polar regions: a review

Abstract

This is a review of methods of passive microwave satellite monitoring of the sea-ice cover in polar regions. We briefly describe the microwave radiometers launched into the Earth’s orbit and provide data used in studies of Arctic and Antarctic sea ice. We give a detailed description of currently used algorithms for determining the sea-ice concentration and cover in polar regions according to satellite microwave radiometry. The methods for constructing these algorithms and their related drawbacks are considered. The final section of this paper briefly analyzes the studies that compare current algorithms with each other, with radar data, infrared data, and data of visual ship observations.