Low-frequency microwave radiometry is a powerful tool to study the dynamics and the processes that take place in the polar regions and especially in Antarctica. Since the launch of the first L-band radiometer SMOS satellite by ESA , followed by NASA’s Aquarius and SMAP spaceborne sensors, the collected data have been analyzed to exploit theirs potential in the monitoring of the internal properties of the ice sheet and the surface characteristics. The “N. Carrara” Institute for Applied Physics (former Institute for Electromagnetic Waves Research - IROE) has been involved in the Antarctic research since the 90’s especially in the field of atmospheric remote sensing.
Starting from 2004, the microwave remote sensing group started monitoring the Antarctic plateau by installing an L-band radiometer at Concordia station within the framework of SMOS cal/val activities . Since then, the team was on the forefront of the European research on the ice sheet monitoring using low-frequency microwave radiometers, and contributing to the theoretical explanation of the L-band signature of the East Antarctic Plateau. In the very last years, IFAC was involved in the UWBRAD project led by OSU for the deployment of a new radiometer that will extend the low-frequency microwave observation to non-protected bands, making possible the radiometry at UHF bands. The aim of the project is the development of a radiometer useful to estimate the vertical temperature profile of the ice sheet.
After a brief introduction on the IFAC background and its activity on the remote sensing in the microwave filed, the seminar will report on the recent Antarctic activities carried out by the microwave research group. Results about the monitoring of the ice sheet will be shown both for the local and the large scale. Then, the first Antarctic campaign with a UWBRAD prototype will be described and the future planned activities outlined.
