Operational and Passive Microwave Sea Ice Extent Products: Clarifying applications for the public
Abstract
There are many datasets providing sea-ice extent for the Arctic. The datasets are designed with particular source data and user groups in mind. While we applaud the discovery of new and novel data usage, there are some applications in which a particular dataset should be avoided. Derived pan-arctic sea-ice extent, as a key indicator of a changing climate, can be archived in an easy-to-use format and has therefore become a popular analysis tool for people of all backgrounds. Recently, cross-comparisons of ice extent products have entered the arena of climate change debate, allowing for long-term trends to be called into question. The Sea Ice Index and the Multisensor Analyzed Sea Ice Extent datasets are two heavily-used products that are frequently leveraged as supporting evidence in debate. However, the intended use for the two products differ. In this study, we perform seasonal and regional comparisons of the two products, and discuss differences in the context their applications.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2017
- Bibcode:
- 2017AGUFM.C21G1183D
- Keywords:
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- 0750 Sea ice;
- CRYOSPHERE;
- 1640 Remote sensing;
- GLOBAL CHANGE;
- 4207 Arctic and Antarctic oceanography;
- OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERAL;
- 4262 Ocean observing systems;
- OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERAL