Title: The Ultra-Wideband Software-Defined Microwave Radiometer For Ice Sheet Subsurface Temperature Sensing: Results from 2017 Campaigns
Presenting Author: Joel Johnson
Organization: The Ohio State University
Co-Author(s): M. Andrews, K. Jezek, A. Bringer, C. Yardim, O. Demir,, C. Chen, Y. Duan, M. Durand, OSU G. Macelloni, M. Brogioni, CNR Italy S. Tan, L. Tsang, University of Michigan

Abstract:
The Ultra-Wideband Software-Defined Microwave Radiometer (UWBRAD) was developed under the support of NASA's Instrument Incubator Program to measure Earth brightness temperatures in the range 500-2000 MHz. UWBRAD uses 12 ~ 88 MHz channels in this region, and includes software-defined processing to address the challenge of radio frequency interference (RFI). Key science goals for UWBRAD include the use of 500-2000 MHz brightness temperatures to infer information on the subsurface temperatures within ice sheets, as well as sea ice thickness, sea salinity, and other properties. UWBRAD was deployed in airborne observations of the Greenland ice sheet in September 2016 and 2017. Results from the September 2017 campaigns will be focused on in the presentation. UWBRAD was operated aboard a DC-3 aircraft from Kenn Borek Airlines, Inc., and observed Earth brightness temperatures during a transit flight from Calgary, Canada to Thule Air Force Base, Greenland. Information on the properties of observed 500-2000 MHz brightness temperature spectra will be provided, as well as progress in use of the measurements to determine ice sheet subsurface temperature profiles. Initial results on the use of UWBRAD measurements to infer properties of sea ice and sea salinity will also be presented. Properties of the RFI observed will be discussed, as well as the performance of UWBRAD's RFI processor in facilitating brightness temperature observations in the presence of RFI. The presentation will conclude with recommendations regarding continued science applications for 500-2000 MHz brightness temperature measurements and for potential use of these concepts in future airborne and spaceborne missions.