IPY STG SAR Workshop Day 1 Summary

1
IPY STG SAR WorkshopDay 1 Summary

• GIIPSY thematic science objectives presented
  along with a strawman acquisition strategy
• Agency representatives from ESA, DLR, CSA, NASA,
  reviewed IPY activities, capabilities and
  constraints. ASF provided information on behalf
  of JAXA.
• Ice Service operational requirements were
  reviewed

2
IPY STG SAR WorkshopDay 1 Summary

• Comparison of thematic objectives and agency
  activities showed
• Substantial L and C-band SAR imagery being
  acquired over Antarctica.
• Substantial C-band data for InSAR is being
  acquired over Greenland, Antarctica, Iceland,
  Svalbard, Arctic ice caps. X-band coverage for
  topography and velocity is beginning. InSAR and
  image data gaps in the Antarctic pole hole
• Extensive C-band SAR image data of Arctic and
  Antarctic Ice covered waters. Routine, robust,
  3-6 days repeat cycle image acquisitions are not
  systematically acquired over the entire Arctic
  basin.

3
IPY STG SAR WorkshopDay 1 Summary Cont

• Seasonal snow cover at high latitudes yet to be
  addressed in a comprehensive fashion over
  supersites. X-Band contribution?
• C-band data for permafrost mapping likely to
  result from Envisat and R1 acquisition plans.
  Suggest a F1 acquisition mission complementary to
  the F1 coverage collected during the CIM How
  about permafrost in Europe and Russia? How do
  you map permafrost change support to science
  can be provided by space agencies
• Limited lake and river freeze up R1 data acquired
  by Canadian Ice Service how can we expand?

4
IPY STG SAR WorkshopData Gaps

• Coordinated Envisat/ERS/R1/TerraSAR observations
  could greatly increase Antarctic Insar coverage
  for ice sheet velocity from coast to pole.
• Complementary R1 and Envisat acquisitions could
  improve distribution of sea ice observations
  suitable for ice motion measurement.
• Reduced ground station support is a near term
  risk to IPY science community and sea ice
  operational communities
• L-band and RSAT1 coverage of Greenland and the
  Arctic Basin must be negotiated
• Large scale systematic X-band coverage of ice
  sheets and sea ice should be encouraged through a
  DLR IPY coordinated proposal.

5
IPY STG SAR WorkshopAction Items Day 1

• Action Item 1 Request systematic ALOS coverage
  of Greenland (InSAR) and the Arctic basin.
  Request that JAXA continue polar observations
  beyond the conclusion of IPY as their capabilites
  and mandate permit. (KJ)
• Provide similar refinement of acquisition plan to
  other space agencies (RK, IJ, KJ)
• Action Item 2 Request CSA and NASA to explore
  near term (1 month) approaches for using R-1
  during the IPY to cover areas of the Arctic where
  there are Envisat data gaps.
• STG SAR coordination group to formulate a letter
  to be submitted to CSA, NASA external relations
  and MDA to avoid planning and data reception gap
  for RSAT 1 over both polar regions during IPY
• Action Item 3 Submit recommendation for R2
  background mission and Government Allocation
  acquisition complementary to existing archive for
  IPY and which supplement gaps in other existing
  systems and archival data sets (science community
  YC, RSJ, GR, KW)
• Action Item 4 Investigate possibilities for
  ENVISAT reception over Chukchi sea for IPY
  Follow-on on discussions between ESA, ASF and
  KSAT for the reception during IPY
• Action Item5 For the science community to
  develop and submit a proposal to DLR for IPY
  related data acquisition

6
IPY STG SAR WorkshopPossible Approach for today

• Select 3-4 objectives that
• Solve important, large scale science problem
• Fills a gap in planned IPY coverage
• Involves interagency collaboration
• Agree on a list of recommendations to be
  submitted to STG3 for implementation

7
Arctic Sea Ice Observations

• Construct a C-Band coverage (3-day snapshots) for
  the Arctic ocean during the remaining of IPY
  (background missions, operation data
  acquisitions, etc.)
• Coordinate between CSA and ESA Mission Management
  desks to elaborate a plan within the constraints
  (RSJ, HL, DL)
• Provide science requirements (RK)

8
Antarctic Surface Velocity

• Winter Pole to Coast InSAR coverage of the
  Antarctic in high-res mode (3-4 consecutive
  cycles in asc and desc)
• Use the coverage of the Continental Margin
  already planned by ESA (slide 18)
• RSAT2 background mission (Left looking) (KJ, IJ,
  GR, RSJ)
• Pole hole mapping with Terrasar (KJ, IJ, DF)
• 3-4 cycles of L-Band PALSAR
• Provide science requirements (KJ, IJ)

9
Arctic Glaciers, Ice Caps and Sheets

• Greenland and Major Canadian Icefields of InSAR
  acquisition over 3-4 consecutive cycles of
  high-res in winter
• Large-scale synoptic acquisition plan to be
  assessed by ESA and CSA for C-Band
• Suggesting improved L-Band coverage
• Fast moving glaciers showed in CNES
  presentation suggested coverage by Terrasar
  (DF)
• Provide science requirements (IJ)

10
Science Super Sites

• Science community to identify supersites (look at
  what exist already) and determine acquisition
  parameters (frequency, resolution, etc.) for
  multi-pol and polarimetry data collection for
  Jaxa, DLR and CSA to look at the possibility to
  program data acquisition
• Sea ice, snow water equivalent, glacier facies,
  permafrost

11
Day 2 Action Item

• STG SAR coordination group to submit a letter to
  CSA, NASA, and MDA senior External Relations
  managers to ensure RSAT1 availability and avoid
  receptions gaps over the polar regions