Iceberg detection using ERS-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar

Abstract

We review the importance of iceberg monitoring and the current status of iceberg detection methods using spaceborne synthetic aperture radar, and describe the newly developed iceberg detection subsystem of the Ice Pilot Application Project sea ice system. Validation against in situ data from the European high Arctic and the North Atlantic near Newfoundland suggests that the subsystem is able to detect about half of all icebergs between 15 and 60 m across, and virtually all icebergs larger than 120 m across, under calm, sea-ice-free conditions.