NASA Scatterometer (NSCAT)-derived sea ice extent images 1996-1997

This NASA Scatterometer (NSCAT) data set consists of enhanced
resolution radar backscatter (sigma0) images of the Earth's polar
regions which have been masked based on the extent of sea ice in the
scatterometer images. Images are generated on polar stereographic and
Lambert equal area grids at a pixel resolution of 4.45 km.

Images are made using the Scatterometer Image Reconstruction
w/filtering (SIRF)algorithm and the scatterometer sea ice extent
algorithm of Remund and Long (Q.P. Remund and D.G. Long, Sea Ice
Extent Mapping Using Ku-Band Scatterometer Data, Journal of
Geophysical Research, Vol. 104, No. C5, pp. 11515-11527, 1999). For
highest possible spatial resolution as well as to ensure full coverage
over the images, multiple orbit passes are combined. Images of sigma0
at 40 deg incidence angle (A) in dB and the slope of sigma0 versus
incidence angle (B) in dB/deg, along with auxilary parameters, are
available.

Originally developed to measure winds over the ocean from space,
scatterometer data has proved to be very useful in a variety of
studies including polar ice and tropical vegetation. In particular,
scatterometer measurements have demonstrated utility in monitoring
melting in Greenland, a leading indicator of global warming. Because
the scatterometer radar signal can penetrate the surface, a
scatterometer can resolve subsurface limate related features in snow
pack.

For more information link to the Scatterometer Climate Record
Pathfinder (SCP) at URL "http://www.scp.byu.edu/"

With their rapid global coverage, day or night and all-weather
operation, scatterometers offer a unique tools for long-term climate
studies. The goal of the SCP is to provide scatterometer-based
datasets to researchers involved in climate studies.