Improving model-satellite comparisons of sea ice melt onset with a satellite simulator
Seasonal transitions in Arctic sea ice, such as the melt onset, have been found to be useful metrics for evaluating sea ice in climate models against observations. However, comparisons of melt onset dates between climate models and satellite observations are indirect. Satellite data products of melt...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3235-2022 https://doaj.org/article/0f2b9be061064fc98b20e98fa7d3658c |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:0f2b9be061064fc98b20e98fa7d3658c 2023-05-15T14:54:11+02:00 Improving model-satellite comparisons of sea ice melt onset with a satellite simulator A. Smith A. Jahn C. Burgard D. Notz 2022-08-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3235-2022 https://doaj.org/article/0f2b9be061064fc98b20e98fa7d3658c EN eng Copernicus Publications https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/16/3235/2022/tc-16-3235-2022.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-16-3235-2022 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/0f2b9be061064fc98b20e98fa7d3658c The Cryosphere, Vol 16, Pp 3235-3248 (2022) Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3235-2022 2022-12-30T20:45:21Z Seasonal transitions in Arctic sea ice, such as the melt onset, have been found to be useful metrics for evaluating sea ice in climate models against observations. However, comparisons of melt onset dates between climate models and satellite observations are indirect. Satellite data products of melt onset rely on observed brightness temperatures, while climate models do not currently simulate brightness temperatures, and must therefore define melt onset with other modeled variables. Here we adapt a passive microwave sea ice satellite simulator, the Arctic Ocean Observation Operator (ARC3O), to produce simulated brightness temperatures that can be used to diagnose the timing of the earliest snowmelt in climate models, as we show here using Community Earth System Model version 2 (CESM2) ocean-ice hindcasts. By producing simulated brightness temperatures and earliest snowmelt estimation dates using CESM2 and ARC3O, we facilitate new and previously impossible comparisons between the model and satellite observations by removing the uncertainty that arises due to definition differences. Direct comparisons between the model and satellite data allow us to identify an early bias across large areas of the Arctic at the beginning of the CESM2 ocean-ice hindcast melt season, as well as improve our understanding of the physical processes underlying seasonal changes in brightness temperatures. In particular, the ARC3O allows us to show that satellite algorithm-based melt onset dates likely occur after significant snowmelt has already taken place. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Arctic Ocean Sea ice The Cryosphere Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Arctic Ocean The Cryosphere 16 8 3235 3248 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 A. Smith A. Jahn C. Burgard D. Notz Improving model-satellite comparisons of sea ice melt onset with a satellite simulator |
topic_facet |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
Seasonal transitions in Arctic sea ice, such as the melt onset, have been found to be useful metrics for evaluating sea ice in climate models against observations. However, comparisons of melt onset dates between climate models and satellite observations are indirect. Satellite data products of melt onset rely on observed brightness temperatures, while climate models do not currently simulate brightness temperatures, and must therefore define melt onset with other modeled variables. Here we adapt a passive microwave sea ice satellite simulator, the Arctic Ocean Observation Operator (ARC3O), to produce simulated brightness temperatures that can be used to diagnose the timing of the earliest snowmelt in climate models, as we show here using Community Earth System Model version 2 (CESM2) ocean-ice hindcasts. By producing simulated brightness temperatures and earliest snowmelt estimation dates using CESM2 and ARC3O, we facilitate new and previously impossible comparisons between the model and satellite observations by removing the uncertainty that arises due to definition differences. Direct comparisons between the model and satellite data allow us to identify an early bias across large areas of the Arctic at the beginning of the CESM2 ocean-ice hindcast melt season, as well as improve our understanding of the physical processes underlying seasonal changes in brightness temperatures. In particular, the ARC3O allows us to show that satellite algorithm-based melt onset dates likely occur after significant snowmelt has already taken place. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
A. Smith A. Jahn C. Burgard D. Notz |
author_facet |
A. Smith A. Jahn C. Burgard D. Notz |
author_sort |
A. Smith |
title |
Improving model-satellite comparisons of sea ice melt onset with a satellite simulator |
title_short |
Improving model-satellite comparisons of sea ice melt onset with a satellite simulator |
title_full |
Improving model-satellite comparisons of sea ice melt onset with a satellite simulator |
title_fullStr |
Improving model-satellite comparisons of sea ice melt onset with a satellite simulator |
title_full_unstemmed |
Improving model-satellite comparisons of sea ice melt onset with a satellite simulator |
title_sort |
improving model-satellite comparisons of sea ice melt onset with a satellite simulator |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3235-2022 https://doaj.org/article/0f2b9be061064fc98b20e98fa7d3658c |
geographic |
Arctic Arctic Ocean |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Ocean Sea ice The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean Sea ice The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 16, Pp 3235-3248 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/16/3235/2022/tc-16-3235-2022.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-16-3235-2022 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/0f2b9be061064fc98b20e98fa7d3658c |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3235-2022 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
16 |
container_issue |
8 |
container_start_page |
3235 |
op_container_end_page |
3248 |
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1766325916787539968 |