A Compact, Reconfigurable, Multi-UWB Radar for Snow Thickness Evaluation and Altimetry: Development and Field Trials

Fernando Rodriguez-Morales*, Jilu Li, Daniel Gomez Garcia Alvestegui, Jiaxuan Shang, Emily J. Arnold, Carlton J. Leuschen, Christopher F. Larsen, Andrew Shepherd, Sine Munk Hvidegaard, Rene Forsberg

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

We developed a portable ultra-wideband radar system capable of reconfigurable operation in multiple frequency bands (separate or simultaneous) spanning from microwaves through millimeter waves. The instrument provides a compact solution for fine-resolution measurements of elevation changes and superficial snow/firn thickness from low-altitude, mid-sized airborne platforms. In this article, we provide an overview of the radar system design and its performance during laboratory testing. We demonstrate its application in aerial surveys of snow layer thickness at S/C bands, dual-band airborne altimetry at Ku-/Ka-bands, and present first-order comparisons with coincident airborne lidar data.

Original languageEnglish
Article number9464650
Pages (from-to)6755-6765
Number of pages11
JournalIEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
Volume14
Early online date24 Jun 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Jul 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • multi-ultra-wideband (UWB) radar
  • Multiband altimeter
  • snow-probing radar

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