Author(s): O. M. Johannessen; S. Sandven; L. H. Pettersson; K. Kloster; M. W. Miles; V. V. Melentyev
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Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: NERSC first demonstrated use of ERS-1 SAR data for near real-time ice mapping of the Northern Sea Route in August 1991, only a few weeks after the launch of the ERS-1 satellite. SAR derived sea ice maps were then sent by fax to the French vessel "L' Astrolabe" during her voyage from Norway to Japan (JOHANNESSEN et aI., 1992J. This demonstration was evaluated as very interesting by the captains and sea ice experts onboard the Russian icebreakers which escorted L'Astrolabe through the ice-covered parts of the route. A second and more extensive demonstration was carried out in November 1993 using the icebreaker "Sovetsky Soyuz". In addition to the navigational aspects this experiment also had scientific objectives such as improved understanding of sea ice phenomena in the Kara Sea and their SAR signatures. The main results of the experiment are discussed in this paper.
Year: 1994