An improved retrieval method for liquid water content of the Antarctic ice sheet using SMOS data

With global climate warming, Antarctic ice sheet melting has garnered increasing attention, as changes in liquid water content (LWC) significantly affect sea level rise and regional climate. This study integrates SMOS L-band passive microwave data with the LS-MEMLS microwave emission model and employs the Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm to retrieve the surface LWC of the Antarctic ice sheet and its spatiotemporal variations. We analyzed LWC, surface density, and melt days across different Antarctic regions, focusing on the trends in LWC and its relationship with multi-source remote sensing products. The results indicate a rising trend in LWC and melting of the Antarctic Peninsula and coastal ice shelves from 2018 to 2020, with a notable peak in 2020, potentially related to the anomalous climatic events. This research provides new methodological and theoretical insights into Antarctic ice sheet dynamics melt and their implications for the global climate system.