Improved Retrieval of Ice and Open Water From Sequential RADARSAT-2 Images

In this paper, we present a new technique for automated detection of ice and open water from sequential RADARSAT-2 ScanSAR dual-polarization HH-HV images. The technique is based on combining a previously developed approach to ice and water detection applied to single synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images with the ice motion information derived from sequential SAR images. To evaluate the new approach, it was applied to 736 SAR image pairs acquired in 2013. Compared with the previous approach, the new approach produced an increase in the fraction of correctly classified water samples from 57.7% to 72.6% while the fraction of correctly classified ice samples did not change appreciably. The overall accuracy stayed at a high level exceeding 99.8%, when compared against the Canadian Ice Service Image Analysis pure ice and water samples. Verification results for different regions and months showed that the detection accuracy exceeds 99.5% for the most regions and months. The proposed approach can also assign enhanced quality to ice and water retrievals found in the reference image. The results are particularly relevant in light of the upcoming Canadian RADARSAT Constellation Mission which will significantly increase the amount and frequency of SAR observations over the Arctic region.