Polar snow and ice masses exert a profound influence on global climate and ocean circulation, and are in turn influenced by climate. Satellite remote sensing constitutes the only practical and systematic means of gaining long-term overviews of any change or variability that may be occurring in key snow and ice parameters. Current relevant satellite sensors are reviewed and future developments evaluated to determine how these may lead to improved retrievals of the key parameters. Sensors to be launched on satellite platforms planned for the end of the century and beyond include both improved versions of existing sensors (such as MODIS) and new classes of sensors (such as imaging spectrometers and laser rangers/altimeters) applied to polar remote sensing for the first time. -Author

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Earth Sciences
Research Group:	Physical geography and environmental geoscience
Research Field:	Glaciology
Objective Division:	Environmental Management
Objective Group:	Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments
Objective Field:	Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Massom, RA (Dr Robert Massom)
ID Code:	35683
Year Published:	1995
Deposited By:	CRC-Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems
Deposited On:	2005-08-26
Last Modified:	2018-11-15
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