北极海冰表面积雪深度卫星测高估算方法对比与评估

Comparison and Evaluation of Snow Depth Estimation Methods for Arctic Sea Ice Using Satellite Altimetry

  • 摘要: 海冰表面积雪深度是利用卫星测高技术反演海冰厚度的关键参数。基于ICESat-2和CryoSat-2测高卫星的协同观测数据(简称IS2CS),对比与评估卫星测高雪深估算的两种时空匹配方法(轨迹搜索法和格网搜索法),并对2018-2024年北极海冰生长期(10月至次年4月)积雪深度的时空分布特征进行分析。结果表明:(1)IS2CS轨迹法雪深与OIB实测数据具有较高的沿轨相关性,能够较好地捕获沿轨积雪深度的变化特征;(2)格网法雪深更适合表征大尺度积雪深度的空间分布和季节性变化特征,本文格网法雪深和GSFC雪深精度相当,在SIMBA数据的评估中本文格网法雪深性能优于GSFC雪深;(3)相比IS2CS雪深,MW99/AMSR2雪深相对偏厚,且在海冰生长期内季节性变化表征能力较弱;(4)海冰积雪深度呈现明显的时空差异,多年冰表面雪深普遍厚于一年冰表面雪深,春季雪深厚于秋冬季雪深。2018-2024年间,北极海冰表面积雪深度总体呈现减薄趋势,且多年冰区域的雪深减薄速率高于一年冰区域。研究成果为改进卫星测高雪深产品和优化海冰厚度反演算法提供了科学依据。

     

    Abstract: Objective: Snow depth on sea ice is a critical parameter for retrieving sea ice thickness using satellite altimetry techniques. This study utilizes coordinated observations from ICESat-2 and CryoSat-2 altimetry satellites (IS2CS) to compare and evaluate two spatiotemporal matching methods (along-track search method and gridded search method) for satellite altimetry snow depth estimation, and analyzes the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of snow depth in the Arctic sea ice growth season (October to April) from 2018 to 2024.Methods: Based on the penetration characteristics of Ku-band into snow cover on sea ice surface and considering the propagation delay of radar waves in the snow layer, snow depth is derived from the difference between CryoSat-2 observed radar freeboard and ICESat-2 laser altimeter observed total sea ice freeboard. The along-track method identifies near-simultaneous IS2 and CS2 measurements through strict spatiotemporal constraints (within 24 hours and within radar footprint range), but with limited spatial coverage. The gridded method aggregates measurements into 25-kilometer spatial grids, adopting relaxed temporal constraints (±15 days).Results: The along-track method shows high correlation with Operation IceBridge (OIB) field measurements (R=0.613, mean bias -2.6 cm, RMSE 4.0 cm), better characterizing fine-scale variations in snow depth profiles despite limited spatial coverage. The gridded method is more suitable for representing large-scale spatial distribution and seasonal evolution patterns of snow depth, with accuracy comparable to GSFC snow depth products in OIB validation, and performing better in Sea Ice Mass Balance Array (SIMBA) data validation (RMSE 4.0 cm versus 4.5 cm). Compared to IS2CS snow depth estimates, MW99/AMSR2 snow depth products show relatively greater thickness (mean bias 7.5 cm compared to OIB measurements) and exhibit weaker seasonal variations during sea ice growth (monthly growth rate 0.53 cm/month, compared to 1.52 cm/month for our gridded method). IS2CS gridded snow depth shows that snow cover on multi-year ice (average 21.9 cm) is consistently thicker than on first-year ice (average 13.9 cm), with snow depth displaying a distinct seasonal pattern characterized by gradual accumulation from autumn to maximum values in spring.Conclusion: During the 2018-2024 period, Arctic sea ice snow depth shows an overall thinning trend, with multi-year ice regions thinning faster than first-year ice regions. The multi-year ice region in the Beaufort Sea shows the most significant thinning trend, consistent with the continued decline of Arctic multi-year ice. These findings provide valuable scientific basis for enhancing satellite altimetry snow depth products and refining sea ice thickness retrieval algorithms, with important implications for improving Arctic sea ice monitoring in a changing climate.

     

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