MONITORING SEA ICE THICKNESS FLUCTUATION IN THE SEA OF OKHOTSK BY THE SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING

Abstract

  Sea ice thickness was estimated from the satellite-borne passive microwave radiometer SSM/I based on the field observations using ship-borne electro-magnetic induction sea ice thickness profiler and potable passive microwave radiometer in the East Antarctic and the Sea of Okhotsk. The Polarization Ratio of 36GHz showed a good correlation with in-situ snow and ice total thickness. This parameter was applied to SSM/I in order to investigate sea ice thickness fluctuation in the Sea of Okhotsk.
  Sea ice thickness in the Sea of Okhotsk indicated unique characteristics in its distribution related to local climate and topography, and decreased with ice area decline during 1989-2010 winters. Since 2005, sea ice thickness, area and duration of existence were decreased significantly.