Authors
Walter N. Meier (NSIDC), J. Scott Stewart (NSIDC), Mark A. Tschudi (University of Colorado, CCAR), Chuck Fowler (University of Colorado, CCAR)

Abstract

NSIDC’s sea ice motion and age products are widely-used climate indicators and provide a record of sea ice conditions since 1979. We are currently in the process of substantially enhancing and updating the products, with a planned release by mid-2024. Numerous improvements are being made to the products. First, the Advanced Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) is being added as a source for the motion product. This will substantially increase the spatial resolution of the product since 2012, and reduce uncertainty; analysis of AMSR2-derived motions yield uncertainties that are ~50% lower than the current Special Sensor Microwave Imager and Sounder (SSMIS) source. Second, enhanced resolution brightness temperatures will be employed for all passive microwave sources; this will yield improvements in uncertainty for the entire record starting in 1979. Assessment of these new source brightness temperatures show a ~30% improvement over standard resolution sources. These enhanced resolution sources also have the potential to yield improved summer estimates from passive microwave sensors. Third, estimates derived from reanalysis winds will also be improved. Finally, improvements will be made to the interpolation methods that combine all sources together. The enhanced motions will be used as the new source for the sea ice age product, yielding considerable improvements in the age estimates.