Comparative analysis of microwave indices for freeze/thaw state monitoring and adaptive thresholding implications

Near-surface soil freeze-thaw (F/T) cycles constitute a critical interface process regulating global hydrological dynamics, ecosystem succession, and climate feedback mechanisms. Leveraging its all-weather penetration capability, passive microwave remote sensing has emerged as a cornerstone for larg...

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Main Authors: Zhicheng Yang, Tianjie Zhao, Qingfeng Wang, Lihua Peng, Youhua Ran, Yu Bai, Jingyao Zheng, Panpan Yao, Zhiqing Peng, Jinbiao Zhu, Xiaokang Kou, Yuei-An Liou, Jiancheng Shi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Science of Remote Sensing
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666017225000458
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author Zhicheng Yang
Tianjie Zhao
Qingfeng Wang
Lihua Peng
Youhua Ran
Yu Bai
Jingyao Zheng
Panpan Yao
Zhiqing Peng
Jinbiao Zhu
Xiaokang Kou
Yuei-An Liou
Jiancheng Shi
author_facet Zhicheng Yang
Tianjie Zhao
Qingfeng Wang
Lihua Peng
Youhua Ran
Yu Bai
Jingyao Zheng
Panpan Yao
Zhiqing Peng
Jinbiao Zhu
Xiaokang Kou
Yuei-An Liou
Jiancheng Shi
author_sort Zhicheng Yang
collection DOAJ
description Near-surface soil freeze-thaw (F/T) cycles constitute a critical interface process regulating global hydrological dynamics, ecosystem succession, and climate feedback mechanisms. Leveraging its all-weather penetration capability, passive microwave remote sensing has emerged as a cornerstone for large-scale F/T state monitoring. However, the performance disparities and optimization pathways among existing microwave indicators remain inadequately characterized. This study systematically evaluated eight individual indicators—including soil liquid water content indices (Normalized Polarization Ratio, NPR; Modified Polarization Ratio, MPR; Quasi-Emissivity, QE; Normalized Frequency Difference Index, NFDI) derived from SMAP and AMSR2 satellite data, and surface soil temperature indices (TbV6.9, TbV10.65, TbV18.7, TbV36.5)—along with their 16 combinations. The evaluation was conducted across six soil moisture and temperature networks spanning the Tibetan Plateau (Maqu, Naqu, Pali, Shiquan River, SMN-WDL) and Inner Mongolian Plateau (SMN-SDR), utilizing both the Threshold - based Algorithm (TA) and Discriminant Function Algorithm (DFA). Results demonstrated that the liquid water content indicator QE and surface soil temperature indicator TbV36.5 exhibited optimal universality, with their combined configuration achieving consistent performance across all networks. The DFA significantly enhanced detection stability compared to conventional TA, particularly demonstrating superior robustness under snow cover and vegetation interference scenarios. This research elucidates the synergistic mechanisms of microwave indicators and identifies algorithm optimization pathways, offering critical technical insights to advance the parameterization accuracy of land surface process models in cold regions.
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spelling doaj-art-2ae8715a456845d8938e2c4b8f7eed912025-08-20T03:47:20ZengElsevierScience of Remote Sensing2666-01722025-06-011110023910.1016/j.srs.2025.100239Comparative analysis of microwave indices for freeze/thaw state monitoring and adaptive thresholding implicationsZhicheng Yang0Tianjie Zhao1Qingfeng Wang2Lihua Peng3Youhua Ran4Yu Bai5Jingyao Zheng6Panpan Yao7Zhiqing Peng8Jinbiao Zhu9Xiaokang Kou10Yuei-An Liou11Jiancheng Shi12Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China; State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; Corresponding author.Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China; Corresponding author.State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang, 050043, ChinaCenter for Space and Remote Sensing Research, National Central University, Taoyuan, 320317, ChinaNational Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, ChinaNear-surface soil freeze-thaw (F/T) cycles constitute a critical interface process regulating global hydrological dynamics, ecosystem succession, and climate feedback mechanisms. Leveraging its all-weather penetration capability, passive microwave remote sensing has emerged as a cornerstone for large-scale F/T state monitoring. However, the performance disparities and optimization pathways among existing microwave indicators remain inadequately characterized. This study systematically evaluated eight individual indicators—including soil liquid water content indices (Normalized Polarization Ratio, NPR; Modified Polarization Ratio, MPR; Quasi-Emissivity, QE; Normalized Frequency Difference Index, NFDI) derived from SMAP and AMSR2 satellite data, and surface soil temperature indices (TbV6.9, TbV10.65, TbV18.7, TbV36.5)—along with their 16 combinations. The evaluation was conducted across six soil moisture and temperature networks spanning the Tibetan Plateau (Maqu, Naqu, Pali, Shiquan River, SMN-WDL) and Inner Mongolian Plateau (SMN-SDR), utilizing both the Threshold - based Algorithm (TA) and Discriminant Function Algorithm (DFA). Results demonstrated that the liquid water content indicator QE and surface soil temperature indicator TbV36.5 exhibited optimal universality, with their combined configuration achieving consistent performance across all networks. The DFA significantly enhanced detection stability compared to conventional TA, particularly demonstrating superior robustness under snow cover and vegetation interference scenarios. This research elucidates the synergistic mechanisms of microwave indicators and identifies algorithm optimization pathways, offering critical technical insights to advance the parameterization accuracy of land surface process models in cold regions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666017225000458SMAPAMSR-2Freeze/thawAlgorithmPassive microwave
spellingShingle Zhicheng Yang
Tianjie Zhao
Qingfeng Wang
Lihua Peng
Youhua Ran
Yu Bai
Jingyao Zheng
Panpan Yao
Zhiqing Peng
Jinbiao Zhu
Xiaokang Kou
Yuei-An Liou
Jiancheng Shi
Comparative analysis of microwave indices for freeze/thaw state monitoring and adaptive thresholding implications
Science of Remote Sensing
SMAP
AMSR-2
Freeze/thaw
Algorithm
Passive microwave
title Comparative analysis of microwave indices for freeze/thaw state monitoring and adaptive thresholding implications
title_full Comparative analysis of microwave indices for freeze/thaw state monitoring and adaptive thresholding implications
title_fullStr Comparative analysis of microwave indices for freeze/thaw state monitoring and adaptive thresholding implications
title_full_unstemmed Comparative analysis of microwave indices for freeze/thaw state monitoring and adaptive thresholding implications
title_short Comparative analysis of microwave indices for freeze/thaw state monitoring and adaptive thresholding implications
title_sort comparative analysis of microwave indices for freeze thaw state monitoring and adaptive thresholding implications
topic SMAP
AMSR-2
Freeze/thaw
Algorithm
Passive microwave
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666017225000458
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