Instrument architecture, advanced digital beamforming techniques, and operation modes for an enhanced SIGNAL mission concept

Abstract

In the general effort of understanding climate change, one of the key challenges is understanding the feedback loops between the global climate system and the Cryosphere. Current observations qualitatively show that the Cryosphere reacts very sensitively to climate change. However, improved observation capabilities are needed in order to better quantify some of the observed processes. In particular, in order to quantify the complex dynamics of ice mass balances, a detailed and accurate knowledge of the time varying ice surface topography is needed.