Polar Oceans from Space (eBook)

Josefino C. Comiso is a Senior Research Scientist of the Oceans and Ice Branch Division of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. His current research interests include: (a) the detection of climate change from historical data; (b) the role of Odden and polynyas in ocean convection and bottom water formation; (c) air-sea-ice interactions and biological processes in the polar regions; (d) radiative transfer modelling studies and satellite algorithms for sea, ice and snow.  

Preface 7
Contents 10
Background 14
1.1 Introduction 14
1.2 Early Perspective of the Polar Regions 18
1.3 Development of Satellite Earth Observation Systems 24
1.4 The Role of the Polar Regions in the Climate System 28
References 30
Fundamental Characteristics of the Polar Oceans and Their Sea Ice Cover 31
2.1 Introduction 31
2.2 The Polar Oceans 33
2.3 The Sea Ice Cover 58
References 78
Satellite Remote Sensing Techniques 84
3.1 Electromagnetic Spectrum and Channel Selections 84
3.2 Satellites and Sensors 86
3.3 Data Products and Sources 119
3.4 Data Fusion and Data Assimilation 120
3.5 Limitations and Future Needs 121
References 122
Geophysical Parameters and Algorithms for High Latitude Applications 123
4.1 Introduction 123
4.2 Radiative Characteristics of Surface Parameters 126
4.3 Geophysical Parameters and Retrieval Techniques 141
4.4 Error Analysis and Accuracy Requirements 181
References 184
Variability of Surface Pressure, Winds, and Clouds 191
5.1 Introduction 191
5.2 Sea Level Pressures and Winds 193
5.3 Clouds 213
References 230
Variability of Surface Temperature and Albedo 232
6.1 Introduction 232
6.2 Surface Temperature 234
6.3 Albedo 277
References 301
Characteristics and Variability of the Sea Ice Cover 304
7.1 Introduction 304
7.2 Sea Ice in the Northern Hemisphere 312
7.3 Sea Ice in the Southern Hemisphere 343
References 368
Polynyas and Other Polar Phenomena 373
8.1 Introduction 373
8.2 Polynyas 375
8.3 The Odden in the Greenland Sea 391
8.4 Antarctic Circumpolar Wave and Other Polar Processes 396
8.5 MIZ Processes and Polar Lows 398
8.6 Distribution of Icebergs and Impacts 402
References 407
Variability of Phytoplankton Pigment Concentrations and Primary Productivity 411
9.1 Introduction 411
9.2 Ocean Color in the Northern Hemisphere 413
9.3 Ocean Color in the Southern Hemisphere 435
References 453
Decadal Changes, Correlations, and Trends 456
10.1 Introduction 456
10.2 Decadal Changes in Surface Temperature, Sea Ice, Albedo, and Sea Level Pressure 458
10.3 Seasonal Trends in Surface Temperature and the Sea Ice Cover 475
10.4 Relationships of Surface Temperature with Sea Ice and Albedo 480
10.5 Trends in Chlorophyll Concentration and Primary Productivity and Relations with Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Ice 484
10.6 The Rapidly Shrinking Arctic Multiyear Ice Cover 489
10.7 Increasing Antarctic Sea Ice Cover and Connections with the Ozone Hole 494
10.8 Record Length and Trend Analysis Issues 496
10.9 Summary and Conclusions 498
References 500
Index 503