Yackel, JohnZheng, Jiacheng2017-01-192017-01-1920172017http://hdl.handle.net/11023/3574Late-winter snow thickness on first-year sea ice is estimated based on the duration of snowmelt. The study encompasses the late-winter to advanced-melt period. The beginning of snowmelt is detected using space-borne C-band microwave scatterometer measurements, and the end of snowmelt is detected using optical satellite measurements. The snowmelt duration is then used to invert a degree-day snowmelt model based on air temperature, and a melt coefficient is calibrated with in situ observations. The modelled snow thickness estimation is validated with distributed in situ measurements of snow thickness throughout Dease Strait, Nunavut, Canada. The mean snowmelt duration for the study sites is 24.6 ± 1.2 days, and the estimated mean snow thickness is 14.7 ± 3.0 cm. The overall performance of the model reveals a RMSE of 27.1% and a bias of 1.8%. The methodology shows promise, and it can easily be scaled up to estimate snow thickness on a regional basis.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Physical GeographyRemote SensingSea iceRemote SensingModellingSnowMicrowaveCryosphereCanadian Arcticmaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/27807