Application of C-Band Radar in Monitoring Diesel-Contaminated Sea Ice at the Churchill Marine Observatory

Recent global warming has profoundly impacted Arctic sea ice by reducing its extent and thickness. This decline has facilitated various anthropogenic activities and, thus, increased the risk of oil spills in this region. The early detection of oil spill events through radar remote sensing is essential for effective response applications. In this study, we present the first ever oil spill experiment conducted at the Churchill Marine Observatory in December 2024, where polarimetric radar backscattering measurements were obtained over oil-contaminated sea ice in a controlled mesocosm environment. Co-polarization and crosspolarization signals were recorded both before and after the introduction of diesel beneath a layer of sea ice. The Normalized Radar Cross Sections (NRCS) of a C-band scatterometer were analyzed throughout the study period. Our results demonstrate the capability of <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\mathbf{C}$</tex>-band polarimetric parameters in monitoring the early stages of diesel contamination in sea ice within the range of <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$1-4 \text{dB}$</tex>. The outcomes contribute valuable insights for satellitebased monitoring and advancing climate research through the characterization of <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\mathbf{C}$</tex>-band polarimetric responses.