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Passive microwave Arctic sea ice melt onset dates from the advanced horizontal range algorithm 1979-2022
1NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory, Greenbelt, Maryland, 20771, USA. angela.c.bliss@nasa.gov.
Scientific Data
|December 1, 2023
Summary
Arctic sea ice melt onset (MO) dates from 1979-2022 were mapped using the updated Advanced Horizontal Range Algorithm (AHRA V5). This 44-year record improves early-season melt detection for climate change studies.
Area of Science:
- * Climate Science
- * Cryosphere Science
- * Remote Sensing
Background:
- * The Arctic sea ice seasonal cycle is crucial for climate change monitoring.
- * Detecting the start of the melt season is key to understanding sea ice dynamics.
- * Passive microwave satellite observations are vital for tracking surface melting.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To present a 44-year dataset of Arctic sea ice annual melt onset (MO) dates (1979-2022).
- * To introduce an updated melt onset detection algorithm, AHRA V5.
- * To improve the accuracy of early-season melt onset estimates, particularly near sea ice peripheries.
Main Methods:
- * Utilized passive microwave satellite data spanning 1979-2022.
- * Applied an updated Advanced Horizontal Range Algorithm (AHRA V5).
- * Incorporated revised algorithm start dates and sea ice mask methodologies.
Main Results:
- * Generated annual maps of Arctic sea ice melt onset dates.
- * Provided descriptive statistics summarizing the 44-year data record.
- * AHRA V5 demonstrates improved early-season melt onset detection accuracy.
Conclusions:
- * The AHRA V5 dataset offers a valuable resource for monitoring Arctic sea ice melt trends.
- * Data are suitable for studying atmosphere-sea ice interactions during spring and summer.
- * Enhancements in AHRA V5 improve the reliability of melt onset date estimations.
