New passive microwave remote sensing technique for sea ice in the Sea of Okhotsk using 85-GHz channel of DMSP SSM/I

New sea ice classifying algorithm based on the 85-GHz channel of DMSP SSM/I is developed for the Sea of Okhotsk, and is based on aircraft measurements of the ice in the Lake Saroma and the Sea of Okhotsk by using a NASDA-developed airborne microwave radiometer (AMR), with the 89-GHz channels. This algorithm is applied to SSM/I data, and is calibrated by comparing to NOAA AVHRR and ADEOS AVNIR visible and near infrared data, The spatial resolution of ice area data derived from this algorithm increase to 4 times per pixel compare to the NASA team algorithm by using the 85-GHz channel which hag the higher resolution, 12.5km than the other channels, 25km. Furthermore the false sea ice signals shown around the coast and marginal ice zone have decreased for all seasons by using this algorithm. This algorithm also attempts to classify sea ice types, fast ice, floes, young ice and new ice by using the difference between the dielectic properties of 85-GHz and 37-GHz channels on different sea ice types with the thickness.©2008 Japanese Society of Snow and Ice