Adaptive Probability Thresholding in Automated Ice and Open Water Detection From RADARSAT-2 Images

Abstract

In this letter, we introduce adaptive probability thresholding in addition to our previously developed technique for automated detection of ice and open water from RADARSAT-2 ScanSAR dual-polarization HH–HV images. Situations where the probability threshold needs to be modified were identified based on the analysis of misclassified ice and water samples when the static probability threshold of 0.95 is applied. We found that with the use of the proposed approach, the fraction of misclassified ice samples decreased from 0.98% to 0.24% and the fraction of misclassified water samples decreased from 0.35% to 0.09% in the most clean verification scenario against Canadian Ice Service Image Analysis pure ice and water data, while the fraction of correctly classified ice and water samples did not decrease appreciably, from 72.2% to 65.4%. The developed approach will be implemented as a part of the data assimilation component of the operational Environment and Climate Change Canada Regional Ice-Ocean Prediction System.