1. How do sea-ice concentrations from operational data compare with passive microwave estimates? Implications for improved model evaluations and forecasting
- Author
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Florence Fetterer, J. Scott Stewart, Walter N. Meier, and Sean Helfrich
- Subjects
geography ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Meteorology ,Data products ,010502 geochemistry & geophysics ,Numerical weather prediction ,01 natural sciences ,Multiple input ,Ice edge ,Data quality ,Sea ice ,Image resolution ,Geology ,Microwave ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Earth-Surface Processes ,Remote sensing - Abstract
Passive microwave sensors have produced a 35 year record of sea-ice concentration variability and change. Operational analyses combine a variety of remote-sensing inputs and other sources via manual integration to create high-resolution, accurate charts of ice conditions in support of navigation and operational forecast models. One such product is the daily Multisensor Analyzed Sea Ice Extent (MASIE). The higher spatial resolution along with multiple input data and manual analysis potentially provide more precise mapping of the ice edge than passive microwave estimates. However, since MASIE is based on an operational product, estimates may be inconsistent over time due to variations in input data quality and availability. Comparisons indicate that MASIE shows higher Arctic-wide extent values throughout most of the year, largely because of the limitations of passive microwave sensors in some conditions (e.g. surface melt). However, during some parts of the year, MASIE tends to indicate less ice than estimated by passive microwave sensors. These comparisons yield a better understanding of operational and research sea-ice data products; this in turn has important implications for their use in climate and weather models.
- Published
- 2015