Surface characteristics from ERS-1 WSC: Application to Periarctic regions.

Yann H. KERR		CESBIO (CNES-CNRS-UPS) 18 Ave. E. Belin 31401 TOULOUSE CEDEX FRANCE Yann.Kerr@cesbio.cnes.fr
Nelly MOGNARD-CAMPBELL		CESBIO (CNES-CNRS-UPS) 18 Ave. E. Belin 31401 TOULOUSE CEDEX FRANCE nmognard@ups.edu
Simon BAILLARIN		CESBIO (CNES-CNRS-UPS) 18 Ave. E. Belin 31401 TOULOUSE CEDEX FRANCE Simon.baillarin@cesbio.cnes.fr
Jean-Charles MEUNIER		CESBIO (CNES-CNRS-UPS) 18 Ave. E. Belin 31401 TOULOUSE CEDEX FRANCE JeanCharles.Meunier@cesbio.cnes.fr

Abstract

This study presents a successful attempt to extract regularly and monitor surface parameters/variables by using both active and passive sensors in the microwave domain. We have used ERS-1 Windscatterometer data (from ESA) and SSM/I data (from NSIDC), over a latitudinal band extending from 55 to 75 °N and 360 ° longitude. It seems thus that we have now a data set of surface variables covering several years ('92 to '95) which should be great interest to climate models either for input or for checks. The work is being pursued towards a characterisation of year to year changes, and through more in depth analysis of temporal variations to the assessment of permafrost boundaries.
In this presentation we will show how the data was processed and analysed, how ambiguities can be suppressed by using a two-sensor approach (such as snow melt, snow under vegetation etc . . . ) togeth