Technology Advancement for Microwave Remote Sensing of Sea Ice

我提出的研究计划的主要目标是推动最先进的遥感技术，使工程界和科学界了解海冰的地球物理和热力学特征。将在三个领域进行研究：1)探测海冰中石油的海冰遥感实验，2)海冰散射的电磁模拟，以及3)开发新的北极遥感测量平台。*卫星遥感历来用于监测北极；然而，对于海冰地球物理和热力学的快速变化如何影响卫星尺度的散射，我们的认识仍然存在挥之不去的不确定性。随着北极冰川条件的减少而增加的运输，再加上近海石油勘探、钻探和生产的扩张计划，我们在这个脆弱的环境中发生石油泄漏的风险增加了。加拿大有责任确保我们能够发现并减轻这种环境灾难的风险。遥感研究需要发展对雷达波相互作用的基本了解，并改进探测工具和方法。*为了解释雷达数据，我依靠电磁模型来描述微波如何与复杂的海冰介质相互作用。新的建模方法将帮助我理解波浪相互作用的机制，并可用于开发探测困在海冰下的石油的技术。根据我的建模研究结果，我将设计、制造和测试要集成到无人机(UAV)上的遥感有效载荷，这些无人机的天线经过调整，可以检测特定参数，例如海冰中的石油。*该计划的预期主要研究成果将是加深对如何使用雷达确定海冰地球物理和热力学状态的理解，开发和验证创新的电磁建模技术，以及改进检测海冰中石油的方法。天线将被模拟、建造、测试，并集成到用于遥感应用的新型测量平台中。*北极遥感领域的发现将有助于保持加拿大在与北方可持续发展有关的技术、科学和经济问题研究方面的领先地位。这项研究计划建立在工程学院和马尼托巴大学地球观测科学中心(CEOS)之间的合作研究努力的基础上，并得到了与业界的合作伙伴关系的支持。硬件研究将在电气和计算机工程部进行，遥感研究将在海冰环境研究设施(SERF)和由CFI资助的新的丘吉尔海洋天文台(CMO)进行。

The main objective of my proposed research program is to advance the state-of-the-art in remote sensing technologies for the engineering and scientific communities to understand the geophysical and thermodynamic characteristics of sea ice. Research will be undertaken in three areas: 1) Sea Ice Remote Sensing Experiments for Detection of Oil in Sea Ice, 2) Electromagnetic Modeling of Sea Ice Scattering, and 3) Development of New Measurement Platforms for Arctic Remote Sensing.***Satellite remote sensing has historically been used to monitor the Arctic; however, lingering uncertainties remain in our knowledge of how rapid changes in sea ice geophysics and thermodynamics affect the satellite-scale scattering. As transportation through the Arctic increases in response to reduced ice conditions, compounded by plans for expansion in offshore oil exploration, drilling, and production, we have an increased risk of an oil spill in this fragile environment. Canada has a responsibility to ensure that we are in a position to detect and mitigate the risk from such an environmental disaster. Research in remote sensing is required to develop the fundamental understanding of radar wave interactions and to advance detection tools and methods.***In order to interpret radar data, I rely on electromagnetic models to describe how microwaves interact with the complex sea ice medium. New modeling methods will help me to understand the mechanisms of the wave interactions and can be used to develop techniques for detecting oil that is trapped underneath sea ice. From the results of my modeling studies, I will design, build, and test remote sensing payloads to be integrated onto unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with antennas that are tuned for detection of specific parameters, such as oil in sea ice.***The expected major research outputs of this program will be an enhanced understanding of how radar can be used to determine sea ice geophysical and thermodynamic state, development and validation of innovative electromagnetic modeling techniques, and improved methods for detection of oil in sea ice. Antennas will be simulated, built, tested, and integrated into novel measurement platforms for remote sensing applications.***Discoveries in the areas of Arctic remote sensing will help maintain Canada's status as a leader of research in technological, scientific, and economic issues related to sustainable development in the north. This research program builds on a collaborative research effort between the Faculty of Engineering and the Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS) at the University of Manitoba, supported by partnerships with industry. Hardware research will be conducted in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, while remote sensing research will be performed at the Sea-ice Environmental Research Facility (SERF) and at the new CFI-funded Churchill Marine Observatory (CMO).