L-band ice-sheet brightness temperatures at Dome C, Antarctica: Spectral emission modelling, temporal stability and impact of the ionosphere

Abstract

The temporal thermal stability, size, structure and spatial uniformity of Antarctic Plateau regions such as Dome C make them ideal candidates for external calibration and validation, or radiometric performance monitoring of planned space-borne L-band radiometers such as the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) radiometer. As experimental observations do not exist at this frequency, a combination of historical Ka-, X- and C-band data are used together with electromagnetic and ionospheric models to extrapolate to this longer wavelength. Dome C is demonstrated to exhibit negligible seasonal variability (<0.1 K) and may prove to be a suitable candidate, provided the effects of atmospheric and ionospheric perturbations can be mitigated.