2019 AMS Poster Abstract—A New Era in Snow and Ice Mapping at the U.S. National Ice Center—FINAL

A New Era in Snow and Ice Mapping at the U.S. National Ice Center - New Data Sources and Tools Bring the Interactive Multisensor Snow and Ice Mapping System into High Definition

David McCormick, Kevin Berberich, John Woods, Frank Monaldo, & Lev Nagdimunov

U.S. National Ice Center, Washington, DC, USA

As part of the United States National Ice Center’s (USNIC) mission to provide global and tactical scale snow and ice products, the Interactive Multisensor Snow and Ice Mapping System (IMS) produces daily snow and ice coverage products for the entire Northern Hemisphere. The IMS utilizes satellite data from multiple platforms, instrument observations, and automated snow/ice detection algorithms. A certified IMS Analyst interprets these data on a daily basis to demarcate the presence of snow and ice across the Northern Hemisphere. Updated analyses are produced twice a day to ensure that the most up to date information is available for use. The IMS has been in existence since 1997 and running operationally at the USNIC since 2008. Over the 21-year history of the IMS, there have been numerous updates to improve the accuracy and resolution of IMS products. The latest version of the IMS incorporates new tools and data sources enabling Analyst to more quickly and accurately detect and analyze snow and ice.

Since the launches of GOES-16, Sentinel-1A/B, and NOAA-20, the IMS has been able to leverage these new data sources for near real-time use. These next generation satellites provide Analysts with an unprecedented ability to analyze snow and ice in high definition with improved spatial and temporal resolution. The USNIC has also taken advantage of composite imagery provided by the University of Wisconsin. With the new Arctic Composite feature, the IMS pulls in composited imagery from multiple geostationary and polar satellites into one extended loop, creating a pseudo geostationary effect of Arctic imagery. Additionally, the USNIC has leveraged its partnership with NOAA’s Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) to bring in a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Ice Mask. The SAR Ice Mask product allows IMS Analysts to demarcate sea ice near instantaneously in areas with SAR coverage. These new tools contribute to a decrease in time it takes to perform an analysis, while also providing increased analysis accuracy. The improved product benefits all IMS users, including the numerical weather prediction community.