A Multi-Channel UWB Airborne Microwave Radar for Swath Mapping of Snow Layers

We developed a multi-channel, ultra-wideband, microwave radar for swath mapping of snow layers on land, sea ice and ice sheets. The system operates in the 2-18 GHz band (up to 16-GHz bandwidth) with two nadir-looking transmitters and six receivers; and a dual-polarized, forward-looking transmitter/receiver pair. The system addresses the limitations in cross-track resolution found in prior single-channel instruments and will help improve snow thickness retrieval in areas of complex surface topography. This paper presents an overview of the radar electronics and antenna system and their installation on the NASA P-3B aircraft. We also present initial results from a short field campaign conducted in Greenland in the spring of 2022.