Daily sea ice extent updates resume with provisional data

NSIDC has obtained data from the DMSP F-18 satellite and is in the process of intercalibrating the F-18 data with F-17 data. Intercalibration addresses differences between the series of sensors, in order to provide a long-term, consistent sea ice record. While this work continues, we are displaying the uncalibrated F-18 data in the daily extent image. The daily time series graph shows F-17 data through March 31, and F-18 data from April 1 forward. Initial evaluation of the uncalibrated F-18 data indicates reasonable agreement with F-17, but the data should be considered provisional and quantitative comparisons with other data should not be done at this time.

Because these are provisional data, the Sea Ice Index has not been updated and continues to display only F-17 data through March 31. We expect to make the F-18 data available in Charctic soon.

For general information on the intercalibration of sensors, see the documentation for Sea Ice Concentrations from Nimbus-7 SMMR and DMSP SSM/I-SSMIS Passive Microwave Data. This documentation will be updated when the intercalibration to F-18 is complete.

For more information on the F-17 satellite sensor issues, see our previous post.

Extended outage of NSIDC’s sea ice data source; April sea ice extent very low

The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F17 satellite is experiencing continuing issues with its passive microwave sensor. Data from the 37V channel, used to observe sea ice, have been unusable since early April, although the 37H channel used for the Greenland Ice Sheet Today melt area mapping is unaffected. NSIDC is working to bring the DMSP F18 satellite online for its near-real-time source of data for sea ice monitoring. Based on other data sources, sea ice extent remains far below average for the satellite record period, and likely setting record daily lows. The April sea ice decline rate appears to have been slightly faster than average.

Overview of conditions

sea ice concentration map

Figure 1a. Arctic sea ice concentration, in percent concentration, for May 1, 2016 from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) satellite Shizuku (GCOM-W1) AMSR2 instrument. Areas of ocean with at least 15% ice concentration are considered ice-covered, when calculating sea ice extent.

Credit: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, courtesy University of Bremen
High-resolution image

sea ice extent graphs

Figure 1b. The graphs show Arctic sea ice extent as of April 29, 2016, along with ice extent data for previous years. Top, sea ice extent for 2016 from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) satellite Shizuku (GCOM-W1) AMSR2 instrument. Bottom, similar plot using the same sensor but a different method and channel, from University of Bremen.

Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center/JAXA/University of Bremen
High-resolution image

The Arctic Sea Ice News and Analysis reference sea ice product, the Sea Ice Index, will be suspended until a new calibration can be completed for the F18 satellite, which is underway. The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) instrument flying on Shizuku (GCOM-W1), a satellite operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), provides data on sea ice extent and rates of change, but because it uses a different sensor and processing algorithm, the extent numbers cannot be directly compared with those from the SMMR-SSM/I-SSMIS instruments record; the AMSR2 algorithm gives extents that differ by several tens of thousands of square kilometers, or a fraction of a percent to a few percent of total sea ice extent.

A look at the Arctic Data archive system at the National Institute of Polar Research in Japan reveals that sea ice since mid-April has remained at record low daily levels as assessed over their archive of sea ice extent, and is approximately 400,000 square kilometers (154,400 square miles) below the previous daily record extents at this time. This is supported by another analysis of sea ice extent produced by the University of Bremen using the same satellite but a different sensor channel. Both assessments of sea ice extent indicate that the April rate of decline for 2016 is slightly faster than the long-term average of their respective archives. Another sea ice monitoring site, The Cryosphere Today, continues to use the DMSP F17 data, and their graphics show evidence of the sensor issues. This site reports sea ice area in its graphical trend, not extent (area of ocean with at least 15% sea ice coverage) as do the other sites and NSIDC. However, the trend and record low daily extents for the second half of April may be interpreted from these data as well.

Conditions in context

temperature and pressure anomaly plots

Figure 2. Left, sea level pressure for April 2016 relative to average conditions for the same month, 1981 to 2010. Right, air temperature departure from average for April 2016 at the 925 hPa level (approximately 2,500 feet altitude) relative to the same reference period.

Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center/NOAA ESRL Physical Sciences Division
High-resolution image

April 2016 was quite warm over nearly all of the Arctic Ocean. Air temperatures at the 925 hPa level (about 2,500 feet above the surface) were typically 3 to 5 degrees Celsius (6 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit) above average over the central Arctic Ocean, with larger positive departures compared to average over central Siberia (6 to 8 degrees Celsius, or 11 to 18 degrees Fahrenheit). The sea level pressure pattern featured above average pressures over the Beaufort Sea north of Alaska, and below average pressures over the Aleutians, western Baffin Bay, and Scandinavia. The April 2016 Arctic Oscillation Index transitioned from positive to negative through the month, consistent with the varied patterns of pressure over the Arctic. See our previous discussion of the Arctic Oscillation.

Twist and shout

MODIS animation

Figure 3. This series of images from April 1 to 24, 2016 shows recent fracturing and rotation of sea ice near Alaska and the western Canadian Arctic archipelago. Click on the image to see the animation. Images are from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument via NASA Worldview.

Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center/NASA Worldview
Play the animation

Using a series of images from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) from NASA Worldview, we created a short video showing sea ice drift north of Alaska in the Beaufort Sea. The strong anti-cyclonic (high air pressure) pattern produced surface winds that fractured the ice, twisting it in a clockwise direction and opening the pack ice significantly. Dramatic, similar fracturing of sea ice in the Beaufort Sea has been noted in earlier posts (see March 6, 2013).

 

Motion in the ocean

ice age maps

Figure 4a. Sea ice age mappings for 2015, Week 36 (at the summer sea ice minimum extent) showing the differences between the old (left) and new (right) processing. The improvements in the new processing have resulted in changes in the ice age mapping.

Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center, courtesy M. Tschudi, C. Fowler, J. Maslanik, R. Stewart/University of Colorado Boulder; W. Meier/NASA Cryospheric Sciences
High-resolution image
View comparison images for 2011 to 2015

age extent plot

Figure 4b. The graph compares the extent of ice in each age category (in years) for 2015 Week 36, at the time of the sea ice minima, from versions 2 (Old NRT) and 3 (New NRT) of the near-real-time ice age algorithm.

Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center, courtesy W. Meier/NASA Cryospheric Sciences
High-resolution image

The NSIDC sea ice motion and sea ice age products have recently been updated via a release of Version 3. This version was created by re-running the previous algorithms, and incorporating a few improvements. First, a number of unrealistic AVHRR and buoy velocities that had been noted were removed. Also, a more accurate sea ice mask, based on the same sea ice concentration product used in our sea ice extent analysis, was implemented. Finally, the Version 3 updates include buoy-derived motions in the Arctic through the entire time series (1979 to 2015). Near-real-time processing of provisional ice age data, which are frequently shown here as a first look at ice conditions, has also been updated to include some of the improvements of Version 3, including the incorporation of near-real-time buoy data and NSIDC’s near-real-time sea ice concentration product as the basis for the sea ice mask. As with any near-real-time product, the fields should be considered provisional and are subject to change. Full details of the product changes and the new processing methods are included in the product documentation for Polar Pathfinder Daily 25 km EASE-Grid Sea Ice Motion Vectors, Version 3 and EASE-Grid Sea Ice Age, Version 3.