Iceberg topography and volume classification using TanDEM-X interferometry

Abstract

Abstract. Icebergs in polar regions affect water salinity, alter marine habitats, and impose serious hazards on maritime operations and navigation. These impacts mainly depend on the iceberg volume, which remain an elusive parameter to measure. We investigate the capability of TanDEM-X bistatic single-pass synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) to derive iceberg subaerial morphology and infer total volume. We cross-verify InSAR results with Operation IceBridge (OIB) data acquired near Wordie Bay, Antarctica, as part of the OIB/TanDEM-X Antarctic Science Campaign (OTASC). While icebergs are typically classified according to size based on length or maximum height, we develop a new volumetric classification approach for applications where iceberg volume is relevant. For icebergs with heights exceeding 5 m, we find iceberg volumes derived from TanDEM-X and OIB data match within 7 %. These results suggest that TanDEM-X could pave the way for future single-pass interferometric systems for scientific and operational iceberg mapping and classification.

The Scientific Legacy of NASA’s Operation IceBridge

“…However, Kwok and Kacimi (2018) challenged this assumption using OIB data, finding that the snow thickness was often less than the snow freeboard. Deriving Antarctic snow thickness from OIB data and other remote‐sensing methods is still an active area of research (Section 6.2.2), but Antarctic OIB data have provided crucial information to help develop and test new algorithms for satellite retrievals of freeboard and thickness of Antarctic sea ice (e.g., Fons & Kurtz, 2019; Kwok & Kacimi, 2018), along with iceberg topography and volume (e.g., Dammann et al., 2019).…”

Polarimetric Behavior for the Derivation of Sea Ice Topographic Height From TanDEM-X Interferometric SAR Data

“…On Oct 29, 2017, a coordinated campaign between the NASA's Operation IceBridge (OIB) airborne mission and the DLR's TanDEM-X satellite mission, named as OIB/TanDEM-X Coordinated Science Campaign (OTASC), offered a unique opportunity to measure sea ice topography in Antarctica [37]. Based on the OTASC data, Dammann et al have proved the potential for InSAR to map the topography of icebergs [38].…”

“…Icebergs and sea ice own different characteristics and properties [71], and it is important to achieve a separation of these two. From SAR images, icebergs are expected to have higher backscattering intensity due to their rougher surface than sea ice [38], [72]. Hence, several methods are developed for iceberg detection assuming a distinct contrast between icebergs and background (seawater and sea ice) [73]- [75].…”

Antarctic snow-covered sea ice topography derivation from TanDEM-X using polarimetric SAR interferometry

“…A coordinated campaign of NASA's Operation Ice-Bridge (OIB) airborne mission and the DLR's TanDEM-X satellite mission was successfully conducted on 29 October 2017, named the OIB/TanDEM-X Coordinated Science Campaign (OTASC) (Nghiem et al, 2018). The OTASC data have been successfully used in investigating the topography of icebergs (Dammann et al, 2019) and sea ice (Huang and Hajnsek, 2021).…”