Why Remote Sensing of Sea Ice ?
Remote sensing is the measurement of properties of an object without contact with it. Remote sensing is the only effective way to obtain data on a global scale so the scientific community may understand better how the Earth functions and how human activities affect it. It can be used to study, among other things, climatic changes, pollution and land use. One such area of interest is the study of sea ice and its role in the climate system. About 10% of the ocean is covered by sea ice. Remote sensing of these areas has been the subject of extensive research due to their importance in global change and operational activities including shipping in the polar regions, offshore operations in the marginal seas and harbor operations [Carsey et al., 1992]. Sea ice modulates energy exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere. Sea ice thickness determines the amounts of energy exchange between the air and the ocean. The thicker the ice cover, the more effective is the insulation between the cold
