Antarctic iceberg sizes and spatial distribution from SAR image analysis - Map

This map shows the distribution of the iceberg data extracted from ERS SAR images.

Icebergs are identified in Synthetic Aperture Radar [SAR] images by image analysis using the texture and intensity of the microwave backscatter observations. The images are segmented using an edge detecting algorithm, and segments identified as iceberg or background, which may be sea ice, open water, or a mixture of both. Dimensions of the icebergs are derived by spatial analysis of the corresponding image segments. Location of the iceberg is derived from its position within the image and the navigation data that gives the location and orientation of the image.

More than 20,000 individual observations have been extracted from SAR images acquired by the European Space Agency's ERS-1 and 2 satellites and the Canadian Space Agency's Radarsat satellite. Because images can overlap, some proportion of the observations represent multiple observations of the same set of icebergs.

Most observations relate to the sector between longitudes 70E and 135E. The data set includes observations from several other discrete areas around the Antarctic coast. In general observations are within 200 km of the coast but in limited areas extend to about 500 km from the coast.

This metadata record has been derived from work performed under the auspices of ASAC project 2187 (ASAC_2187).

The map in the pdf file shows the extent of the coverage of individual SAR scenes used in the analysis and the abundance and size characteristics (by a limited colour palette) of the identified icebergs.

Identification info

Alternate title: Antarctic iceberg sizes and spatial distribution from SAR image analysis - Map

Date (Publication): 2001-05-29

Edition: 1

Originator

Young, N.W. and Williams, R.

Publisher

Australian Antarctic Data Centre

Principal investigator

YOUNG, NEAL W

ACE CRC AND AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC DIVISION

Private Bag 80

Hobart

Tasmania

7001

Australia

Principal investigator

WILLIAMS, RAYMOND

SCHOOL OF COMPUTING

PO BOX 1214

University of Tasmania

Launceston

Tasmania

7250

Australia

+61 3 6324 3480

+61 3 6324 3368 (facsimile)

Collaborator

YOUNG, NEAL W

ACE CRC AND AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC DIVISION

Private Bag 80

Hobart

Tasmania

7001

Australia

Name: CAASM Metadata

Website: https://data.aad.gov.au/metadata/records/AAD_Ant_iceberg_SAR

Status: Completed

Custodian

AU/AADC > Australian Antarctic Data Centre, Australia - AADC, DATA OFFICER (DATA CENTER CONTACT)

Australian Antarctic Division

203 Channel Highway

Kingston

Tasmania

7050

Australia

+61 3 6232 3244

+61 3 6232 3351 (facsimile)

Spatial resolution

Spatial resolution: 30

Spatial resolution

Spatial resolution: 30

Topic category

Geoscientific information
Inland waters
Oceans

Extent

Description: Temporal Coverage

Temporal extent

TimePeriod: 1991-09-01 1991-09-01

Title: Near coastal iceberg distributions in East Antarctica 50E - 145E.

Date (Publication): 1998

Citation identifier: 27

Author

Young, N.W., D. Turner, G. Hyland and R.N. Williams

Name: Annals of Glaciology

Page: 68-74

Title: A technique for the identification and analysis of icebergs in synthetic aperture radar images of Antarctica.

Date (Publication): 1999

Citation identifier: 20

Citation identifier: doi:10.1080/014311699211697

Author

Williams, R.N., Rees, G. and Young, N.W.

Name: International Journal of Remote Sensing

Issue identification: 15-16

Page: 3183-3199