Analysis of winter ice using digital STAR-1 SAR imagery of Mould Bay, Northwest Territories

On March 3rd 1984, Intera Technologies Limited flew their STAR-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar over Mould Bay N.W.T. in support of the joint Atmospheric Environment/National Research Council experiments conducted between mid-March and April. Part of the experimental objectives was to conduct one of the first detailed field validations in support of the STAR-1 imagery. The field work was followed by an analysis of the digital radar data generated from the STAR-1 flight. This work was carried out using a DIPIX image analysis system located at Environment Canada's Ice Centre in Ottawa. The sizes of ice targets and the separation distances between them were determined on a pixel-by-pixel basis and standard analysis filters were applied to the data to determine enhancement value. The digital data was also degraded to resolutions simulating other operational systems to determine relative loss of ice feature detail.