دورية أكاديمية

Evaluating the Preconditions of Two Remote Sensing SWE Retrieval Algorithms over the US

التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
العنوان: Evaluating the Preconditions of Two Remote Sensing SWE Retrieval Algorithms over the US
المؤلفون: Shadi Oveisgharan, Daniel Esteban-Fernandez, Duane Waliser, Randall Friedl, Son Nghiem, Xubin Zeng
المصدر: Remote Sensing, Vol 12, Iss 12, p 2021 (2020)
بيانات النشر: MDPI AG, 2020.
سنة النشر: 2020
المجموعة: LCC:Science
مصطلحات موضوعية: SWE, retrieval, sensitivity, differential interferometry, dual polarization dual frequency, Science
الوصف: A large amount of fresh water resources are stored in the snowpack, which is the primary source of water for streamflow in many places at middle-to-high latitude areas. Therefore, snow water equivalent (SWE) is a key parameter in the water cycle. Active and passive microwave remote sensing methods have been used to retrieve SWE due to relatively poor resolution of current in situ interpolated maps with good accuracy. However, estimation of SWE has proved challenging, despite several decades of efforts to develop retrieval approaches. Active sensors provide higher-resolution observations. Two recent promising retrieval algorithms using active data are dual frequency dual polarization backscattered power and differential interferometry. These retrieval algorithms have some restrictions on snow characteristics, the environment, and instrument properties. The restrictions limit the snow that is suitable for the specific retrieval algorithm. In order to better understand how much of the snowpack satisfies the precondition of these retrieval approaches, we use a 4 km gridded snowpack product over the contiguous US for years 1997 and 2015. We use a simple scattering model to simulate the scattering characteristics of snow. The snow property maps, simulated scattering characteristics of snow, and environmental conditions are used to filter the suitable snow for each retrieval algorithm. We show that snow wetness and vegetation coverage are the two main limiting conditions for these retrieval algorithms. We show that 39% and 44% of the grid-points with snow satisfy the preconditions of dual polarization dual frequency retrieval algorithms at 13.5 GHz (one of the recommended frequencies for this algorithm in the literature) in 1997 and 2015, respectively. The most important limiting factors for dual polarization dual frequency retrieval method are dryness of snow, penetration depth, and vegetation-free constraints. The backscattered power in dual polarization dual frequency method is more sensitive to snow density and grain radius rather than to snow depth. We also show that 55% and 53% of the grid-points with snow satisfy the precondition of differential interferometry retrieval algorithms at 1 GHz (one of the recommended frequencies for this algorithm in the literature) in 1997 and 2015, respectively. The most important precondition-limiting factors for differential interferometry are dryness of snow and vegetation-free constraints. The differential interferometry phase retrieval algorithm is equally sensitive to snow height and snow density variations and is independent of snow grain radius.
نوع الوثيقة: article
وصف الملف: electronic resource
اللغة: English
تدمد: 2072-4292
06047483
Relation: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/12/2021; https://doaj.org/toc/2072-4292
DOI: 10.3390/rs12122021
URL الوصول: https://doaj.org/article/4a6c060474834dbfbdbeb143abb326ab
رقم الأكسشن: edsdoj.4a6c060474834dbfbdbeb143abb326ab
قاعدة البيانات: Directory of Open Access Journals
الوصف
تدمد:20724292
06047483
DOI:10.3390/rs12122021