Evaluation of Ice Conditions in Rivers and Lakes
Ice in rivers and lakes is a rough surface which, together with its fine microstructure, results in high backscatter. In low wind conditions, this contrasts with the low backscatter from the smooth water surface of rivers and lakes.

RADARSAT beam mode - Fine and Standard beam modes provide the detail required for the evaluation of ice conditions in rivers and lakes.

RADARSAT incidence angle - A shallow incidence angle will maximize the contrast in backscatter between the rough ice surface and the smooth, specular ocean surface at the leads.

Look direction - N/A

When to acquire RADARSAT data - Acquire data at the time when ice condition information is required. The continual movement of ice by winds may require multi-date data acquisition if temporal ice condition information is needed.