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NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Passive Microwave Sea Ice Concentration, Version 2

Sea Ice Concentration

browse graphicSea Ice Convcentration over the Northern Hemisphere.
The Passive Microwave Sea Ice Concentration Climate Data Record (CDR) dataset is generated using daily gridded brightness temperatures from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) series of Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) passive microwave radiometers onboard F-8, F-11 and F-13, and from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS) data onboard F-17. The sea ice concentrations are an estimate of the fraction of ocean area covered by sea ice for both the north and south Polar Regions. The daily product is produced by combining concentration estimates created using two algorithms developed at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) that are processed and combined at NSIDC using brightness temperature data from Remote Sensing Systems, Inc. (RSS). The data are gridded on the NSIDC polar stereographic grid with 25 x 25 km grid cells and are available in netCDF file format. The monthly averaged data have the same spatial resolution and format. Improvements since Version 1 include: 1) an extended data record from 2007 to present; 2) using SSMIS data from F-17; 3) a new snow melt variable; 4) netCDF metadata improvements; and 5) updated documentation and source code.
  • Cite as: Meier, W., F. Fetterer, M. Savoie, S. Mallory, R. Duerr, and J. Stroeve. 2013. NOAA/NSIDC Climate Data Record of Passive Microwave Sea Ice Concentration. Version 2. [indicate subset used]. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center. https://doi.org/10.7265/N55M63M1.
C00808
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Distribution Formats
  • NetCDF (Version: 4)
    • File Specification: The NetCDF data files comply with the Climate and Forecast (CF) Metadata Conventions and the NetCDF Attribute Convention for Dataset Discovery (ACDD).
Ordering InstructionsContact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
DistributorNOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA Climate Data Record Program Office
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
+1 (828) 271-4800
sea_ice_concentration_contacts@noaa.gov
Time Period1978-10-26 to 2015-12-31
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
N: 89.84
S: -89.84
E: 180
W: -180
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Processing Documents
  • Sea Ice Concentration Source Code
    • CDR Source Code (download)
      This source code is for reference only. The source code is provided to maintain transparency of the algorithm and processes used in creating the Climate Data Record (CDR). The source code is not intended to be portable to any computer system(s) beyond that of the original CDR producer's environment.
  • Sea Ice Concentration - Annual CDR (01B-11) Data Flow Diagram
  • Climate Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (C-ATBD)
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2013-06-20
EditionVersion 2
Data Presentation Form Digital image
Dataset Progress StatusOngoing - data is continually being updated
Data Update Frequency Quarterly
PurposeFor scientific research on sea ice concentration climatology.
Use Limitations
  • See the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for a description of use limitations.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Meier, W., F. Fetterer, M. Savoie, S. Mallory, R. Duerr, and J. Stroeve. 2013. NOAA/NSIDC Climate Data Record of Passive Microwave Sea Ice Concentration. Version 2. [indicate subset used]. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center. https://doi.org/10.7265/N55M63M1.
Cited Authors
  • Meier, Walter N.
    NSIDC > National Snow and Ice Data Center
  • Fetterer, Florence
    NSIDC > National Snow and Ice Data Center
  • Savoie, Matthew
    NSIDC > National Snow and Ice Data Center
  • Mallory, Sean
    NSIDC > National Snow and Ice Data Center
  • Duerr, Ruth
    NSIDC > National Snow and Ice Data Center
  • Stroeve, Julienne
    NSIDC > National Snow and Ice Data Center
  • NOAA CDR Program
Principal Investigators
  • Meier, Walter N.
    NSIDC > National Snow and Ice Data Center
Collaborators
  • Fetterer, Florence
    NSIDC > National Snow and Ice Data Center
  • Savoie, Matthew
    NSIDC > National Snow and Ice Data Center
  • Mallory, Sean
    NSIDC > National Snow and Ice Data Center
  • Duerr, Ruth
    NSIDC > National Snow and Ice Data Center
  • Stroeve, Julienne
    NSIDC > National Snow and Ice Data Center
  • NOAA CDR Program
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Theme keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Cryosphere > Sea Ice > Sea Ice Concentration
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Sea Ice > Sea Ice Concentration
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)
  • Oceanic - Surface - Sea Ice
Data Center keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • NSIDC > National Snow and Ice Data Center
Platform keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • Earth Observation Satellites > DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) > DMSP 5D-2/F8 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F8
  • Earth Observation Satellites > DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) > DMSP 5D-2/F11 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F11
  • Earth Observation Satellites > DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) > DMSP 5D-2/F13 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F13
  • Earth Observation Satellites > DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) > DMSP 5D-3/F17 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F17
  • Earth Observation Satellites > NIMBUS > Nimbus-7
Instrument keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
  • Earth Remote Sensing Instruments > Passive Remote Sensing > Spectrometers/Radiometers > Imaging Spectrometers/Radiometers > SSMIS > Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder
  • Earth Remote Sensing Instruments > Passive Remote Sensing > Spectrometers/Radiometers > Imaging Spectrometers/Radiometers > SSM/I > Special Sensor Microwave/Imager
  • Earth Remote Sensing Instruments > Passive Remote Sensing > Spectrometers/Radiometers > Imaging Spectrometers/Radiometers > SMMR > Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer
Place keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Geographic Region > Polar
  • Ocean > Arctic Ocean > Beaufort Sea
  • Ocean > Southern Ocean > Ross Sea
  • Ocean > Southern Ocean > Weddell Sea
  • Continent > Antarctica
Project keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) Program
  • NOAA OneStop Project
Data Resolution keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords
  • 10 km - < 50 km or approximately .09 degree - < .5 degree
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Meier, W., F. Fetterer, M. Savoie, S. Mallory, R. Duerr, and J. Stroeve. 2013. NOAA/NSIDC Climate Data Record of Passive Microwave Sea Ice Concentration. Version 2. [indicate subset used]. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center. https://doi.org/10.7265/N55M63M1.
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Lineage StatementThis dataset was produced by the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), and is archived at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
Processor
  • NSIDC > National Snow and Ice Data Center
Processing Steps
  • For a description of the processing steps, see the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document and Data Flow Diagram for this dataset.
Processing Documents
    • Sea Ice Concentration Source Code
      • CDR Source Code (download)
        This source code is for reference only. The source code is provided to maintain transparency of the algorithm and processes used in creating the Climate Data Record (CDR). The source code is not intended to be portable to any computer system(s) beyond that of the original CDR producer's environment.
    • Sea Ice Concentration - Annual CDR (01B-11) Data Flow Diagram
    • Climate Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (C-ATBD)
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Last Modified: 2023-08-10
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov