Author(s): W. N. Meier; T. Maksym; M. L. Van Woert
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Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Microwave satellite imagery products are an important resource for characterizing the sea ice environment because of their frequent, all-weather coverage of the polar regions. They are, however, limited by spatial resolution, atmospheric effects, and surface ambiguities in the microwave signal. New SSM/I ice concentration algorithms are now available in near real-time for operational forecasting and analysis. The Barents Sea is a region of operational interest, but is characterized by complex ice formation processes and a mixture of several different ice types. In October 2001, the U. S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy collected information on ice conditions in the region and coincident high resolution Radarsat and DMSP OLS imagery were also obtained. The highresolution imagery were used evaluate and interpret the microwave imagery. The evaluations indicate that the new SSM/I algorithms yield improved characterization of thin ice near the ice edge, without noticeable weather contamination.
Year: 2002