1992-2011 sea ice thickness estimation in the Ross and Weddell Seas from SSM/I brightness temperatures

In polar regions, ocean-atmosphere interactions are strongly influenced by sea ice and its thickness. Obtaining the Antarctic sea ice thickness distribution is however still a challenge. This new Snow Ice Thickness estimation procedure (SIT) combines Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) brightnes...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Aulicino, G., Fusco, G., Kern, S., Budillon, G.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2013
Subjects:
Earth Science
Space and Planetary Science
Sea ice
Antarc*
Antarctic
Antarctic Peninsula
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11566/265376
Description
Summary:In polar regions, ocean-atmosphere interactions are strongly influenced by sea ice and its thickness. Obtaining the Antarctic sea ice thickness distribution is however still a challenge. This new Snow Ice Thickness estimation procedure (SIT) combines Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) brightness temperatures in an empirical approach to obtain sea ice thickness in the Ross and Weddell Seas for seasonal ice up to a thickness of 2 m during freezing conditions. Retrievals are in good agreement with National Ice Center (NIC) ice charts and Antarctic Sea ice Process & Climate (ASPeCt) observations. Differently from the dramatic evidences in the Arctic and in the west Antarctic Peninsula, no negative trends can be detected in the studied regions over the considered 1992-2011 period.

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