The availability and quality of quad-pol synthetic aperture radar (SAR) datasets has increased substantially since the early 2000s, allowing for polarimetrically complete investigations of freshwater ice. These investigations have lead to improved ice classification methods, new understanding of microwave-ice scattering processes, and the potential for new methods to extract ice observables. Such analyses are predicated on the decomposition of the target’s polarimetric properties along mathematical or physical lines. This paper comprehensively reviews the underlying theory and contemporary application of radar polarimetric decomposition as it applies to freshwater ice systems. Modelling and investigation of lake ice, river ice, and glacial systems are discussed. We conclude with recommendations for further research, discussing the value of further development of freshwater-ice models, their use in characterization of the scattering process, and the potential for new methods to extract environmental observables.

自 2000 年代初以来，四极化合成孔径雷达 (SAR) 数据集的可用性和质量显着提高，从而可以对淡水冰进行极化完整的调查。这些研究导致改进的冰分类方法、对微波冰散射过程的新理解以及提取冰可观测物的新方法的潜力。此类分析基于目标的极化特性沿数学或物理线的分解。本文全面回顾了雷达极化分解在淡水冰系统中的基本理论和当代应用。讨论了湖冰、河冰和冰川系统的建模和调查。最后，我们提出了进一步研究的建议，