Sea Ice Index

Parameters ICE EXTENT ICE GROWTH/MELT REFLECTANCE SEA ICE CONCENTRATION Instruments SMMR : SCANNING MULTICHANNEL MICROWAVE RADIOMETER SSM/I : SPECIAL SENSOR MICROWAVE/IMAGER

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The Sea Ice Index consists of graphics showing trends and anomalies in monthly mean Arctic and Antarctic sea ice concentration and extent, with a table of monthly mean extent in millions of square km. The NSIDC Near-Real-Time DMSP SSM/I Daily Polar Gridded Sea Ice Concentrations and the DMSP SSM/I Daily and Monthly Polar Gridded Sea Ice Concentrations data sets are used to generate the monthly mean, trend, and anomaly images so that users of the product can monitor monthly mean ice conditions as they evolve. Trends and anomalies are based on the period of record beginning in 1979. The product is intended to help researchers illustrate sea ice conditions, and to inform users with general questions about recent ice concentration and extent.

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Data Citation

Fetterer, F., and K. Knowles. 2002, updated 2008. Sea ice index. Boulder, CO: National Snow and Ice Data Center. Digital media.

See Also

• Sea Ice Products at NSIDC
• Contact User Services