High resolution (400 m) motion characterization of sea ice using ERS-1 SAR imagery

Using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images from ERS-1, we render high resolution motion fields of sea ice using a multi-resolution processing system. The results are provided at a 400 m resolution, which is an order of magnitude greater than the standard SAR motion products (5–10 km). An error propagation experiment shows a standard deviation of 1.3% day− 1 for the noise in invariant shear resulting from position uncertainties and processing techniques. We use this noise level to determine a significant lower threshold when identifying shear zone discontinuities. As example, a 24-day sequence of images is processed using this system to examine the development and evolution of a shear zone. This evolution is in response to the topographic steering caused by ocean circulation and wind forcing along a continental shelf break. In addition, we adapt the Line Integral Convolution (LIC) to depict flow patterns present in the motion field. Collectively, these motion products provide valuable descriptions of the non-rigid dynamics taking place within the sea ice. Our goal is to complement the existing RADARSAT Geophysical Processing System (RGPS) motion products and aid in the validation and further development of the most progressive “lead-resolving” sea ice models currently available. This form of sea ice visualization is important for understanding air–ice–sea momentum transfer processes that transcend through small-scale to large-scale fracture events with application to ship navigation.