A Physical-Statistical Retrieval Framework to Estimate SWE from X and Ku-Band SAR Observations

Siddharth Singh, Michael Durand, Edward Kim, Jinmei Pan, Do Hyuk Kang, Ana P. Barros

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

A physical-statistical framework to estimate Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) and Snow depth (SD) from SAR measurements was implemented and applied to SnowSAR flight-line data collected during the SnowEx'2017 field campaign in Grand Mesa, Colorado, USA and averaged to 90 m resolution. The physical (radar) model is used to describe the relationship between snowpack conditions and volume backscatter. The statistical model is a Bayesian inference model that seeks to estimate the joint probability distribution of volume backscatter measurements, SWE and SD and physical model parameters. To reduce the number of physical parameters, the snowpack is represented by two layers only. Retrievals compare well with pit observations with good performance in deep snow and residual errors less than 8% for SnowSAR incidence angles > 30°.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationIGARSS 2023 - 2023 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Proceedings
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages17-20
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)9798350320107
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023
Event2023 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS 2023 - Pasadena, United States
Duration: Jul 16 2023Jul 21 2023

Publication series

NameInternational Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS)
Volume2023-July

Conference

Conference2023 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS 2023
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPasadena
Period7/16/237/21/23

Keywords

  • BASE-AM
  • Grand Mesa
  • MEMLS
  • MSHM
  • SWE
  • SnowEx'2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Science Applications
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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