Improved multi sensor Sea Ice Edge and Sea Ice Type products

The main changes in the ice edge product are introduction of ASCAT data and better utilization of SSMI/I 85 GHz. These two instruments contain higher resolution information and the result is a more detailed description of the ice edge in the product. The lower resolution SSM/I data which gives fewer details, but are more weather-robust, is used as a filter in the new method. An example of the difference between the old and new product is shown in the figure below.

The upgraded ice type product utilize ASCAT in addition to the SSM/I 19-37 GHz gradient. The introduction of ASCAT data gives a more realistic representation of the multi year ice extent in the Arctic winter season.

There is no change in product format or products area.

A more detailed description of the improved ice edge and type products and of validation results are found in this report:
report_osisaf_seaice_edge_type_validation.pdf

The Product User Manual has also been updated and the new version is available here:
ss2_pmseaice_v3p6.pdf

Figure: Example from old (left panel) and new (middle panel) OSI SAF Sea Ice Edge product from Svalbard area 10. September 2009. Right panel shows Radarsat SAR images from the same day.

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