Global Annual Freezing and Thawing Indices  View Catalog Page Entry ID
NSIDC-0063
Summary
The total annual freezing and thawing indices are defined as the cumulative number of degree-days when air temperatures are below and above zero degrees Celsius. The total annual freezing index has been widely used to predict permafrost distribution; estimate the maximum thickness of sea, lake, and river ice, and the maximum depth of ground-frost penetration; and classify snow types. The annual total thawing index has been used to predict permafrost distribution and to estimate the maximum depth of thaw in frozen ground. Both total freezing and thawing indices are important parameters for engineering design in cold regions.
Data coverage is global. The data set contains the total annual freezing and thawing indices with a spatial resolution of 0.5 degrees latitude by 0.5 degrees longitude. Two data files are available, for the freeze and thaw indices respectively, in flat binary format. Each file is approximately 1 MB in size. The total annual freezing and thawing indexes were calculated based upon the monthly mean air temperature by Legates and Willmott (1990).
Geographic Coverage
Spatial Coordinates:
N: 90°
S: -90°
E: 180°
W: -180°
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Data Set Citation
Dataset Title: Global Annual Freezing and Thawing Indices
Dataset Release Date: 1998-01-01
Dataset Release Place: Boulder, CO U.S.A.
Dataset Publisher: National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)
Online Resource: http://nsidc.org/data/nsidc-0063.html
Data Resolution
Temporal Resolution: annual average
Location Keywords
- Geographic Region Global
Science Keywords
- Atmosphere Atmospheric Temperature Air Temperature
- Cryosphere Snow/Ice Freeze/Thaw
- Cryosphere Snow/Ice Permafrost
- Land Surface Soils Permafrost
- Terrestrial Hydrosphere Snow/Ice Freeze/Thaw
- Terrestrial Hydrosphere Snow/Ice Permafrost
Ancillary Keywords
- Air Temperature
- Cryosphere
- Degree Days
- Freeze
- Frozen Ground
- Frozen Soil
- Ice Growth
- Ice Melt
- Permafrost
- Snow Melt
- Thaw
Instrument
Project
- EOSDIS Earth Observing System Data Information System
- ESIP Earth Science Information Partners Program
Data Set Progress
COMPLETE
Data Center
National Snow and Ice Data Center
Data Center URL: http://nsidc.org
Data Set ID: NSIDC-0063
Data Center Personnel
Name: NSIDC User Services
Phone: +1 (303) 492-6199
Fax: +1 (303) 492-2468
Email: nsidc@nsidc.org
Contact Address:
National Snow and Ice Data Center
CIRES, 449 UCB
University of Colorado
City: Boulder
Province or State: CO
Postal Code: 80309-0449
Country: USA
NSIDC Distributed Active Archive Center
Data Center URL: http://nsidc.org/daac/index.html
Data Set ID: NSIDC-0063
Data Center Personnel
Name: NSIDC DAAC User Services
Phone: +1 (303) 492-6199
Fax: +1 (303) 492-2468
Email: nsidc@nsidc.org
Contact Address:
National Snow and Ice Data Center
CIRES, 449 UCB
University of Colorado
City: Boulder
Province or State: CO
Postal Code: 80309-0449
Country: USA
NSIDC Frozen Ground Data Center
Data Center URL: http://nsidc.org/fgdc/
Data Set ID: ARCSS050
Data Center Personnel
Name: NSIDC FGDC User Services
Phone: +1 (303) 492-6199
Fax: +1 (303) 492-2468
Email: nsidc@nsidc.org
Contact Address:
National Snow and Ice Data Center
CIRES, 449 UCB
University of Colorado
City: Boulder
Province or State: CO
Postal Code: 80309-0449
Country: USA
Distribution
Distribution Media: ftp
Personnel
Tingjun Zhang
Role: INVESTIGATOR
Phone: 303-492-6199
Fax: 303-492-2359
Email: nsidc@nsidc.org
Contact Address:
UCB449
City: Boulder
Province or State: Colorado
Postal Code: 80309-0449
Country: USA
NSIDC USER SERVICES
Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT
Phone: +1 (303) 492-6199
Fax: +1 (303) 492-2468
Email: nsidc@nsidc.org
Contact Address:
National Snow and Ice Data Center
CIRES, 449 UCB
University of Colorado
City: Boulder
Province or State: CO
Postal Code: 80309-0449
Country: USA
Reference
Legates, D. R. and C. J. Willmott, 1990: Mean Seasonal and Spatial Variability in Global Surface Air Temperature, Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 41(1-2).
Metadata Name and Version
Metadata Name: CEOS IDN DIF
Metadata Version: 9.7
Creation and Review Dates
Last DIF Revision Date: 2001-10-04
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