What was the purpose of the CryoVEx-KAREN 2017 Campaign?

• To fly dual frequency (Ka/Ku-band) radar altimeters together with laser to study penetration depths in support of future satellite missions
• Coordinated sea ice underflights of CryoSat, Sentinel-3 and SARAL/AltiKa in different locations
• Coincident flights with PanArcMIP EC/AWI, NASA Operation IceBridge and GLISTN
• Large-scale in situ work on sea ice (Lincoln Sea and Cambridge Bay) and land ice (EGIG-line)

What was the outcome of CryoVEx/KAREN 2017?

First results of KAREN and ASIRAS differences over sea ice showed about half the snow depth when compared to large scale in situ measurements taken in the Lincoln Sea. This is, however, based on a simple TRMFA 50% for both radars, and needs further evaluation. Published results of the in situ data showed overall good agreement with snow depths obtained using Warren climatology for this particular period and location. Quicklook data of snow depth obtained with NASA Operation IceBridge snow radar showed results between in situ and KAREN-ASIRAS.

Over the EGIG line the in situ firn cores show good correlation with RACMO firn density model. Based on pRES and ASIRAS data the upper annual layers can be identified in the dry snow zone T19 and beyond with expected volume scattering down to 6 m at T19.

Download the CryoVEx-KAREN 2017 Final Report

Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-enocas0 - CryoVEx-KAREN 2017 Campaign: "ESA CryoVEx/KAREN and EU ICE-ARC 2017 - Arctic field campaign with combined airborne Ku/Ka-band radar and laser altimeters, together with extensive in situ measurements over sea- and land ice"

The campaign data are available online via FTP upon submission of a data access request. An active EO Sign In account is required to submit the request.

Data from the campaign are also available to download from the CS2EO portal.

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