The ABoVE L-band and P-band Airborne SAR Surveys

Abstract. Permafrost-affected ecosystems of the Arctic-boreal zone in northwestern North America are undergoing profound transformation as a result of rapid climate change. NASA’s Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) is investigating characteristics that make these ecosystems vulnerable or resilient to this change. ABoVE employs airborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) as a powerful tool to characterize tundra, taiga, peatlands, and fens. Here, we present an annotated guide to the L-band and P-band airborne SAR data acquired during the 2017, 2018, and 2019 ABoVE airborne campaigns. We provide a detailed description of the ~80 SAR flight lines and how each fits into the ABoVE experimental design. Extensive maps, tables, and hyperlinks give direct access to every flight plan as well as individual flight lines. We illustrate the powerful interdisciplinary nature of airborne SAR data with examples of preliminary results from ABoVE studies including: boreal forest canopy structure from tomoSAR data over Delta Junction, AK and the BERMS site in northern Saskatchewan; active layer thickness and soil moisture data product validation. This paper is presented as a guide to enable interested readers to fully explore the ABoVE L- and P-band SAR data.