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Sea Ice Concentration and ExtentAmong the most seasonal and most dynamic parameters on the surface of the Earth is sea ice which at any one time covers about 3-6% of the planet. In the Northern Hemisphere, sea ice grows in extent from about 6 x 10(exp 6) sq km to 16 x 10(exp 6) sq km, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it grows from about 3 x 10(exp 6) sq km to about 19 x 10(exp 6) sq km (Comiso, 2010; Gloersen et al., 1992). Sea ice is up to about 2-3 m thick in the Northern Hemisphere and about 1 m thick in the Southern Hemisphere (Wadhams, 2002), and compared to the average ocean depth of about 3 km, it is a relatively thin, fragile sheet that can break due to waves and winds or melt due to upwelling of warm water. Being constantly advected by winds, waves, and currents, sea ice is very dynamic and usually follows the directions of the many gyres in the polar regions. Despite its vast expanse, the sea ice cover was previously left largely unstudied and it was only in recent years that we have understood its true impact and significance as related to the Earths climate, the oceans, and marine life.
Document ID
20150023295
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Comiso, Josefino C.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
December 18, 2015
Publication Date
January 1, 2014
Publication Information
Publication: Encyclopedia of Remote Sensing
Publisher: Springer
Subject Category
Oceanography
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN24601
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
sea ice extent
sea ice
sea ice concentration

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