Objective To develop an improved ice concentration / ice edge algorithm foruse on passive microwave data as well as a physical model of theatmospheric forcing of the ice edge to obtain a better explanationof interannual variability in the sea ice extent record for theAntarctic.Improvement of the ice concentration / ice edge algorithm will bebased on digital data for case study regions (Weddell andBellingshausen Seas, 1986, 1992, 1993) including cloud-freecoverage by visible/infrared sensors (AVHRR, OLS). The accuracyof sea ice extent derived from passive microwave observations willbe estimated by comparison with the higher resolution VIS/IR data.Validation and calibration of VIS/IR ice concentration estimateswill require with coincident Landsat images (1986 case studies)and radar and line-scan camera images (1992, 1993 case studies).Coincident surface temperature data over the ice (buoys, ECMWFmodel) and pressure fields at the surface and 500 mb (ECMWF) willthen be examined to study the effect of weather and surfacecondition variability (regional and seasonal) on algorithmperformance. Accounting for regional and seasonal differences inice conditions will entail primarily parameterizing meteorologicaldata in the calculation of algorithm coefficients.To develop a model of the atmospheric forcing, the relationshipbetween atmospheric circulation and ice extent will be examined oninterseasonal and iterannual time scales. This will entaildetermining depression tracks and a meridional forcing index frommodel fields and comparing them to ice extent derived fromsatellite data. For the latter passive microwave ice extents andestimates of ice edge motion from multi-temporal AVHRR images willbe used. The primary meteorological data set for this work willbe the digitized daily Australian surface and upper air analysescovering the period from the mid 1970's to the present. Analysisof the effects of individual atmospheric systems on sea ice extentwill be carried out on a limited number of case studies. Stormcenters, surface wind speed, and surface temperature will berelated to ice edge position as depicted in individual AVHRRscenes obtained during 1992 and 1993. Effects in the Weddell andBellingshausen Seas will be contrasted.Using the improved algorithm ice extent around the Antarctic from1978 to the present will be derived from the passive microwavedata set. The application of the atmospheric forcing model to theice extent record should help explain the observed interannualvariability in term of atmospheric cycles. Fields of science engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensorsengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technologyengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsradio technologyradarnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesmeteorologyatmospheric circulation Programme(s) FP3-ENV 1C - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of the environment, 1990-1994 Topic(s) 0102 - Anthropogenic climate change Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Universität Bremen Address 28334 Bremen Germany See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all ALFRED WEGENER INSTITUTE FOR POLAR AND MARINE RESEARCH Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Columbusstrasse 27568 Bremerhaven See on map Links Website Opens in new window Danmarks Tekniske Universitet Denmark EU contribution € 0,00 Address 348,bygning 348 2800 Lyngby See on map NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Madingley road, high cross CB3 0ET Cambridge See on map
