Keywords: AD 2011 08, Antarctic Plateau, Antarctica, Aquarius, Aquarius L-band radiometer observations, Dome C, L-band, Microwave radiometry, Ocean temperature, Sea surface, Snow, brightness temperature, cryosphere, horizontal polarization, hydrological techniques, microwave observations, microwave radiometry, radiometer calibration, remote sensing, remote sensing grain index, sea surface salinity retrievals, sensor intercalibration, shallow-penetration TB channels, snow, snow surface metamorphism effect, snow-ice properties, subkelvin accuracy, surface-based near-infrared photographs, vertical polarization,