Intersensor Calibration Between F-13 SSM/I and F-17 SSMIS Near-Real-Time Sea Ice Estimates

An intercalibration has been conducted for near-real-time sea ice concentration products from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Team algorithm distributed by the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). This represents the first time that an intercalibration has been conducted with near-real-time sea ice data and allowed the NSIDC to provide updates to a parameter of high interest with only limited interruption. The intercalibration follows a similar procedure that has been used for the previous Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) transitions of sea ice products but develops a new method to minimize discontinuities in sea ice extent and area estimates over the transition. In addition, a full year of overlap data was used for the intercalibration, far longer than for the previous SSM/I sensor transitions. A sensitivity study indicated that the consistency of the sea ice products is dependent on the timing (season of the year) and length of the transition and that a full year provides a more consistent time series.