To replace the missing AMSR-E-derived sea ice maps after the AMSR-E instrument failure on October 4, 2011, we apply the same algorithm (ARTIST sea ice) to the 91 GHz channels of the SSMIS instrument (DMSP satellites), the main difference being the change of frequency from 89 GHz (AMSR-E) to 91 GHz (SSMIS). To achieve the best compatibility, the parameters of the ASI algorithm would need to be adjusted. As we expect the changes would only be marginal, and in order to resume this service as quickly as possible, we refrain from any adjustment here. For compatibility, we keep the grid spacing of 6.25 km, although the resolution of the SSMIS 91 GHz data (footprint size) is 13.2 by 15.5 km
For the described reason, please use these maps carefully. Any feedback is welcome.
This site is still under construction and will be extended gradually until AMSR-2 data will become available (expected mid-2012).
As of Jan. 6, 2012, animations of the seaice cover are online again.
This page shows SSMIS sea ice concentrations calculated daily in near real time. The service is part of the GMES project Polar View and of the Arctic Regional Ocean Observing System (Arctic ROOS).
The research for developing, validating and improving the retrieval algorithms was done within the EU Integrated Project DAMOCLES (Developing Arctic Modeling and Observing Capabilities for Long-term Environmental Studies)
The ASI sea ice concentration algorithm used
here has been validated in several studies (Spreen et al. 2005,
Spreen et al., 2008).
However, no warranty is given for
the data presented on these pages. As we are using SSMIS data
instead of AMSR-E data, the quality of the resulting maps has yet
to be assessed.
Please help maintaining this service by
properly citing and acknowledging if you use the data for
publications:
Spreen, G., L. Kaleschke, and
G.Heygster(2008), Sea ice remote sensing using AMSR-E 89 GHz
channels J. Geophys. Res.,vol. 113, C02S03, doi:10.1029/2005JC003384.
| More selected regions |
 Click on the image to enlarge (~1.2 MB). Sea ice map calculated from SSMIS data using the ARTIST sea ice algorithm (ASI 5). |
 Click on the image to enlarge (~500 KB). False color sea ice map. |
 Click on the image to enlarge (~500 KB). Sea ice map calculated from SSMIS data using the ARTIST sea ice algorithm (ASI 5). |
 Click on the image to enlarge (~300 KB). False color sea ice map. Note: Ice shelves not properly masked out (cf. map on the left with blue-gray-white color scale). |
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Animation of
Arctic sea ice concentration (daily update of the last 31 days; AVI format, ~ 1.7 MB) |
Animation of Antarctic sea ice concentration (daily update of the last 31 days; AVI format, ~ 1.9 MB ) |
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Animation of Arctic sea ice concentration (Sep 2011 to date, updated monthly; AVI format, ~ 1.6 MB) |
Animation of Antarctic sea ice concentration (Sep 2011 to date, updated monthly; AVI format, ~ 1.6 MB) |
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| "Hybrid"(AMSR-E/SSMIS) Animation of Arctic sea ice concentration, Jan 2003 to April 2012; AMSR-E until 4 Oct 2011, SSMIS from 5 Oct 2011 (AVI format, ~ 36 MB) |
"Hybrid"(AMSR-E/SSMIS) Animation of Antarctic sea ice concentration, Jan 2003 to April 2012; AMSR-E until 4 Oct 2011, SSMIS from 5 Oct 2011 (AVI format, ~ 33 MB) |
| GEOTIFF | Arctic Antarctic Geotiff ReadMe |
| HDF | Arctic Antarctic |
| grid coordinates (HDF) | Arctic Antarctic |
Note: The archive of SSMIS-based sea ice map has just been started recently. It now contains daily sea ice maps since Sept 1, 2011, and some maps from the months before.
SSMIS/DMSP data collected by the US Air Force Weather Agency.
Distributed by: NOAA's Comprehensive Large-Array data Stewardship System (CLASS).
No warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data! False ice concentrations can occur due to bad weather systems.
