Summarizes state-of-the-art sensor technologies for remote sensing of sea ice and icebergs off Canada's east coast. The study included four tasks: determination of offshore operator needs with regard to sea ice detection; a comprehensive review of available sensors; description of the main technologies involved; and evaluation of the reviewed sensors in relation to the operator needs. The study report includes a summary of operator needs for east coast operating scenarios (oil production and exploratory drilling); descriptions of individual sensors in a common format, including radars, passive microwave sensors, acoustic systems, optical systems, and other sensors; a matrix of sensors versus needs, for each scenario; and a summary of suggested systems for each scenario. In addition, the report summarizes marine communications systems of relevance.

SEA ICE The latest edition of the gold standard in sea ice references In the newly revised second edition of Sea Ice: Physics and Remote Sensing, a team of distinguished researchers delivers an in-depth review of the features and structural properties of ice, as well as the latest advances in geophysical sensors, ice parameter retrieval techniques, and remote sensing data. The book has been updated to reflect the latest scientific developments in macro- and micro-scale sea ice research. For this edition, the authors have included high-quality photographs of thin sections from cores of various ice types, as well as a comprehensive account of all major field expeditions that have systematically surveyed sea ice and its properties. Readers will also find: A thorough introduction to ice physics and physical processes, including ice morphology and age-based structural features Practical discussions of radiometric and radar-scattering observations from sea ice, including radar backscatter and microwave emission The latest techniques for the retrieval of sea ice parameters from space-borne and airborne sensor data New chapters on sea ice thermal microwave emissions and on the impact of climate change on polar sea ice Perfect for academic researchers working on sea ice, the cryosphere, and climatology, Sea Ice: Physics and Remote Sensing will also benefit meteorologists, marine operators, and high-latitude construction engineers.

Remote Sensing of Sea Ice in the Northern Sea Route: Studies and Applications initially provides a history of the Northern Sea Route as an important strategic transport route for supporting the northern regions of Russia and cargo transportation between Europe and the Northern Pacific Basin. The authors then describe sea ice conditions in the Eurasian Arctic Seas and, using microwave satellite data, provide a detailed analysis of difficult sea ice conditions. Remote sensing techniques and the basic principles of SAR image formation are described, as well as the major satellite radar systems used for ice studies in the Arctic. The authors take a good look at the use of sensing equipment in experiments, including the ICE WATCH project used for monitoring the Northern Sea Route. The possibilities of using SAR remote sensing for ice navigation in the Northern Sea Route is also detailed, analysing techniques of automatic image processing and interpretation. A study is provided of regional drifting ice, fast ice and river ice in the coastal areas of the Arctic Seas. The book concludes with a review of the practical experience using SAR images for supporting navigation and offshore industrial activity, based on a series of experiments conducted with the Murmansk Shipping Company on board nuclear icebreakers.

Remote sensing using aircraft and satellites has helped to open up to intensified scientific scrutiny the cold and remote regions in which snow and ice are prevalent. In this book, the utility of remote sensing for identifying, mapping and analyzing surface and subsurface properties of worldwide ice and snow features is described. Emphasis is placed on the use of remote sensing for developing an improved understanding of the physical properties of ice and snow and understanding the interrelationships of cryospheric processes with atmospheric, hydrospheric and oceanic processes. Current and potential applications of remotely sensed data are also stressed. At present, all-weather, day and night observations of the polar regions can be obtained from sensors operating in different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Because the approaches for analysis of remotely sensed data are not straightforward, Chapter 1 serves to introduce the reader to some of the optical, thermal and electrical properties of ice and snow as they pertain to remote sensing. In Chapter 2 we briefly describe many of the sensors and platforms that are referred to in the rest of the book. The remaining chapters deal with remote sensing of the seasonal snow cover, lake and river ice, permafrost, glacier ice and sea ice.