THE USE OF SATELLITES FOR ICE STUDIES 
by R. W. Popham 
U.S. Weather Bureau, Washington, D.C. 
Abstract The use of meteorological satellites to obtain photographs of sea and lake ice 
for research and operational purposes is currently being explored. Television pictures obtained 
principally over Canadian east coast waters from the experimental tiros satellites form the 
basis of these studies. Satellite picture-acquisition methods are described, and some recent 
examples of tiros ice photography are shown and discussed. 
Résumé L’emploi de satellites météorologiques destinés à fournir des photographies de la 
glace recouvrant les mers et les lacs pour des buts scientifiques ou opérationels est couramment 
envisagé. Les images de télévision obtenues principalement au-dessus des eaux de la côte 
orientale du Canada grâce aux satellites expérimentaux tiros constituent la base de ces études. 
Les méthodes d’obtention d’images du satellite font l’objet d’une description et il sera montré 
quelques exemples récents de photographies de glaces prises par tiros. 
Zusammenfassung Das Gebrauch meteorologischer Satelliten für die Aufnahme von Luft 
bildern zur Erkundung von Meeres-Eis und See-Eis für Forschung sowie für Operations 
zwecke, wird laufend untersucht. Fernseh-Aufnahmen, vor allem von Gewässern der Kana 
dischen Ostküste, mit Hilfe der tiros Versuchs-Satelliten, bilden die Basis dieser Studien. 
Es werden die Methoden zur Erlangung der Satellit-Bilder beschrieben und einige neuere 
Beispiele von tiros Eis-Photographien gezeigt und besprochen. 
During the past two decades there has been a significant increase in air and 
sea traffic in the polar and sub-polar regions of the earth. The growing im 
portance of these regions is reflected in scientific experiments such as those 
made during the recent International Geophysical Year and still being con 
ducted, the increased use of trans-polar air routes to reduce intercontinental 
flying time and distance, and the routing of ships through areas where ice 
constitutes a major hazard to navigation. Increasing attention has been focused 
on the meteorology and oceanography of these areas to satisfy the require 
ments placed by these and other activities. 
Forecasting weather for aircraft and ship operations in these regions is made 
especially difficult by the very sparse observational network currently existing 
in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. The prediction of ice formation, growth, 
movement and breakup has depended on the accuracy of long-range weather 
forecasts and visual ice observations obtained from aircraft. 
The use of meteorological satellites to complement sea ice and weather 
observations in the polar and sub-polar regions is currently being studied by 
several organizations in the United States and Canada. Before discussing how 
the material for this study was gathered and how evaluation techniques are 
being developed or applied, some of the problems encountered in analyzing 
satellite photographs may be better understood if the vehicle is described first.