Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1068
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1068
21 Mar 2025
 | 21 Mar 2025

An alternative representation of Synthetic Aperture Radar images as an aid to the interpretation of englacial observations

Álvaro Arenas-Pingarrón, Alex M. Brisbourne, Carlos Martín, Hugh F. J. Corr, Carl Robinson, Tom A. Jordan, and Paul V. Brennan

Abstract. Ground penetrating radar reveals subsurface geometry and ice stratigraphy that contains information about past and present dynamics of the cryosphere. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a processing technique based on averaging the received radar echoes along multiple locations as the radar moves relative to the target. Due to this averaging, directional features are lost. A Doppler frequency shift accounts for the distance rate from the radar to the target. We introduce an alternative representation of SAR images that preserves directional information encoded in its Doppler spectrum. With this technique, called Red-Green-Blue Doppler Decomposition (RGB-DD), the Doppler spectrum of a SAR image is split into three equalised bands, each band representing a primary direction of arrival. A primary colour is assigned to each band to allow joint representation in a single RGB image. We apply our representation framework to several datasets acquired with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) airborne ice-sounding radar over three Antarctic ice streams. Compared to the standard SAR method that is based solely on the averaged intensity level, this method facilitates the enhanced interpretation of englacial features such as ice stratigraphy, crevasses, tephra layers, and along-flow transitions in strain-rate. The technique may be extended to other sensors and applications.

Competing interests: At least one of the (co-)authors is a member of the editorial board of The Cryosphere. The peer-review process 20 was guided by an independent editor, and the authors also have no other competing interests to declare.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
Share

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

20 Oct 2025
An alternative representation of Synthetic Aperture Radar images as an aid to the interpretation of englacial observations
Álvaro Arenas-Pingarrón, Alex M. Brisbourne, Carlos Martín, Hugh F. J. Corr, Carl Robinson, Tom A. Jordan, and Paul V. Brennan
The Cryosphere, 19, 4657–4670, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4657-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4657-2025, 2025
Short summary
Álvaro Arenas-Pingarrón, Alex M. Brisbourne, Carlos Martín, Hugh F. J. Corr, Carl Robinson, Tom A. Jordan, and Paul V. Brennan

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Reviewer Comment on egusphere-2025-1068', Nicholas Holschuh, 13 Apr 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Alvaro Arenas Pingarron, 01 Aug 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1068', Anonymous Referee #2, 21 Jul 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Alvaro Arenas Pingarron, 01 Aug 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Reviewer Comment on egusphere-2025-1068', Nicholas Holschuh, 13 Apr 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Alvaro Arenas Pingarron, 01 Aug 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1068', Anonymous Referee #2, 21 Jul 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Alvaro Arenas Pingarron, 01 Aug 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (01 Aug 2025) by Joseph MacGregor
AR by Alvaro Arenas Pingarron on behalf of the Authors (11 Aug 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (15 Aug 2025) by Joseph MacGregor
AR by Alvaro Arenas Pingarron on behalf of the Authors (20 Aug 2025)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

20 Oct 2025
An alternative representation of Synthetic Aperture Radar images as an aid to the interpretation of englacial observations
Álvaro Arenas-Pingarrón, Alex M. Brisbourne, Carlos Martín, Hugh F. J. Corr, Carl Robinson, Tom A. Jordan, and Paul V. Brennan
The Cryosphere, 19, 4657–4670, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4657-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4657-2025, 2025
Short summary
Álvaro Arenas-Pingarrón, Alex M. Brisbourne, Carlos Martín, Hugh F. J. Corr, Carl Robinson, Tom A. Jordan, and Paul V. Brennan

Data sets

Ice-sounding airborne synthetic aperture radar depth profiles from Recovery Ice Stream 2016/17 and Rutford Ice Stream 2019/20 to test the RGB-Doppler-Decomposition method. (Version 1.0) [Data set] A. Arenas Pingarron et al. https://doi.org/10.5285/40c2f86b-1a02-4106-934a-42769682df66

Model code and software

antarctica/sar-rgb-spectral-decomposition: SAR_rgb_spectral_decomposition (v1.0.3) A. Arenas-Pingarron https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14962614

Álvaro Arenas-Pingarrón, Alex M. Brisbourne, Carlos Martín, Hugh F. J. Corr, Carl Robinson, Tom A. Jordan, and Paul V. Brennan

Viewed

Total article views: 891 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
784 87 20 891 24 38
  • HTML: 784
  • PDF: 87
  • XML: 20
  • Total: 891
  • BibTeX: 24
  • EndNote: 38
Views and downloads (calculated since 21 Mar 2025)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 21 Mar 2025)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 910 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 910 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 20 Oct 2025
Download

The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging is essential for deep englacial observations. Each pixel is formed by averaging the radar echoes within an antenna beamwidth, but the echo diversity is lost after the average. We improve the SAR interpretation if three sub-images are formed with different sub-beamwidths: each is coloured in red, green, or blue, and they are overlapped, creating a coloured image. Interpreters will better identify the slopes of internal layers, crevasses, and layer roughness.
Share