The Arctic: a Growing Theatre for Earth Observation
Why is the Arctic becoming a priority for Earth observation, and which sensors work there?
Chapter summary
The Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the planet, sea ice is retreating, shipping routes and resource projects are expanding, and military activity is increasing.
Key takeaways
- 1
It is also dark for months, often cloudy and vast, which makes it hard to monitor by aircraft or optical satellites.
- 2
SAR is the workhorse, supported by RF sensing for vessels and passive microwave sensors for sea ice.
- 3
Polar orbits pass over the Arctic on almost every revolution, and ground stations in Svalbard and northern Canada download data quickly.
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