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In polar regions, near real-time satellite data, in combination with other data, provide up-to-date information on ice conditions to ships and research vessels. The data are available through NASA's Land, Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for Earth observation (LANCE).

Corrected Reflectance Imagery

MODIS and VIIRS Corrected Reflectance imagery are available only as near real-time imagery. The imagery can be visualized in Worldview and Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS).

Information on MODIS Corrected Reflectance Imagery layers including:

  • Corrected Reflectance True Color (Bands 1-4-3),
  • Corrected Reflectance (Bands 3-6-7)
  • Corrected Reflectance (Bands 7-2-1)

Information on VIIRS Corrected Reflectance Imagery layers including:

  • Corrected Reflectance True Color (Bands I1-M4-M3),
  • Corrected Reflectance (Bands M3-I3-M11)
  • Corrected Reflectance (Bands M11-I2-I1)

Browse Corrected Reflectance imagery in Worldview

For more on the difference between Corrected Reflectance and Surface Reflectance Imagery

Brightness Temperature

Brightness temperature (TB) data are particularly useful for sea ice studies because of the relatively high contrast in emissivities between open water and sea ice.

Product and Download LinkDescriptionBrowse imagery in Worldview

AMSR2 (GCOM-W1)

AU_SI6_NRT_R04

AMSR2 Brightness Temperature for Sea Ice (AMSR2)

The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-E/Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-2 (AMSR-E/AMSR2) unified “Sea Ice Brightness Temperature (89H GHz)” and “Sea Ice Brightness Temperature (89V GHz)” layer displays daily averaged sea ice brightness temperatures (BTs) in kelvin at the polar regions for the 89 GHz horizontal (H) polarization channel and the 89 GHz vertical (V) polarization channel.

This product uses the JAXA AMSR2 Level-1R input BTs which are calibrated (unified) across the JAXA AMSR-E and AMSR2 Level-1R products.

The imagery resolution is 2 km and sensor resolution is 6.25 km. The temporal resolution is daily.

References: AMSR-E/AMSR2 Unified L3 Daily 6.25 km Polar Gridded 89 GHz Brightness Temperatures, Version 1

Brightness Temperature for Sea Ice (89V Ghz) | (89H Ghz), Day | Night
Arctic view
Antarctic view

MODIS (Terra)

MOD021KM

 

MODIS (Aqua)

MYD021KM

MODIS Brightness Temperature (Band 31 - Day|Night)

The MODIS Brightness Temperature, Band 31 layer is the brightness temperature, measured in Kelvin (K), calculated from the top-of-the-atmosphere radiances. It does not provide an accurate temperature of either clouds nor the land surface, but it does show relative temperature differences which can be used to distinguish features both in clouds and over clear land. It can be used to distinguish land, sea ice, and open water over the polar regions during winter (in cloudless areas).

The MODIS Brightness Temperature layer is calculated from MODIS Calibrated Radiances and is available from both the Terra (MOD02) and Aqua (MYD02) satellites. The sensor and imagery resolution is 1 km, and the temporal resolution is daily.

References: MODIS - MODIS Calibrated Radiances

doi:10.5067/MODIS/MOD021KM.NRT.061

Brightness Temperature (Band 31) Day|Night

VIIRS (Suomi NPP)

VNP02IMG_NRT

VIIRS (NOAA-20)

VJ102IMG_NRT

VIIRS Brightness Temperature (Band I5 - Day|Night)

The VIIRS Brightness Temperature, Band I5, Day | Night layer is the brightness temperature, measured in Kelvin (K), calculated from the top-of-the-atmosphere radiances. It does not provide an accurate temperature of either clouds nor the land surface, but it does show relative temperature differences which can be used to distinguish features both in clouds and over clear land. It can be used to distinguish land, sea ice, and open water over the polar regions during winter (in cloudless areas).

The VIIRS Brightness Temperature layer is calculated from VIIRS Calibrated Radiances (VNP02/VJ102) and is available from the Suomi NPP  satellite and NOAA-20 satellite. The sensor resolution is 375m, the imagery resolution is 250m, and the temporal resolution is daily.

References: VIIRS SDR Users Guide

doi:10.5067/VIIRS/VNP02IMG_NRT.002

doi:10.5067/VIIRS/VJ102IMG_NRT.021

VIIRS (Suomi NPP)
Brightness Temperature (Band I5) Day|Night

 

VIIRS (NOAA-20)

Brightness Temperature (Band I5) Day|Night

Land Surface Reflectance

In comparison with the MODIS Corrected Reflectance product, the MODIS Land Atmospherically Corrected Surface Reflectance product (MOD09) is a more complete atmospheric correction algorithm that includes aerosol correction, and is designed to derive land surface properties.

Product: Instrument, Platform and Download LinkDescriptionBrowse imagery in Worldview

MODIS (Aqua) MYD09



MODIS (Terra) MOD09

doi:10.5067/MODIS/MYD09.NRT.061 (Aqua) and doi:10.5067/MODIS/MOD09.NRT.061 (Terra)

More information on MODIS Land Surface Reflectance Products including:

  • MODIS (Aqua/Terra) Land Surface Reflectance True Color (Bands 1-4-3)
  • MODIS (Aqua/Terra) Land Surface Reflectance True Color (Bands 7-2-1)
  • MODIS (Aqua/Terra) Land Surface Reflectance True Color (Bands 1-2-1)
VIIRS (Suomi NPP)
VNP09_NRT
VIIRS Land Surface Reflectance 
The VIIRS Surface Reflectance provides continuity with the EOS-MODIS Land Surface Reflectance product.The Suomi NPP/VIIRS surface reflectance products are estimates of surface reflectance in each of the VIIRS reflective bands I1-I3, M1-M5, M7, M8, M10, and M11. Surface reflectance for each moderate-resolution (750m) or imagery-resolution (375m) pixel is retrieved separately for the Level-2 products and is obtained by adjusting top-of-atmosphere reflectance to compensate for atmospheric effects. Corrections are made for the effects of molecular gases, including ozone and water vapor, and for the effects of atmospheric aerosols. The inputs to the surface reflectance algorithm include top-of-atmosphere reflectance for the VIIRS visible bands (VNP02MOD, VNP02IMG), the VIIRS cloud mask and aerosol product (NPP-CMIP_L2), aerosol optical thickness (NPP_VAOTIP_L2, NPP_VAMIP_L2), and atmospheric data obtained from a reanalysis (surface pressure, atmospheric precipitable water, and ozone concentration). All surface reflectance products are produced for daytime conditions only.
Coming soon
Sea Ice

For near real-time applications, MODIS Sea Ice layer is useful for assessing the presence of sea ice in the ocean and other large water bodies. The presence of sea ice prohibits the passage of ships through the waters and an ice breaker vessel may be required to break up the ice before a ship may pass.

Product: Instrument, Platform and Download LinkDescriptionBrowse imagery in Worldview

MODIS (Terra) MOD29

 



MODIS (Aqua) MYD29



 

The MODIS Sea Ice extent layer shows the presence of sea ice. Ice forms in the sea when air and sea temperatures are consistently cold. Some areas of the sea in the world are consistently covered in sea ice and the sea ice even builds up to form multi year ice packs, some areas only form sea ice in the winter. The presence of sea ice changes the normally dark blue ocean into solid white ice. This has an effect on the weather and earth’s climate. Sunlight that would normally be absorbed by the dark blue ocean is now reflected back by the ice, increasing the surface albedo. Sea ice regulates the amount of heat that escapes the ocean surface to warm the atmosphere.
The MODIS Sea Ice product is available from both the Terra (MOD29) and Aqua (MYD29) satellites. The sensor and imagery resolution is 1 km, and the temporal resolution is daily.
References: NSIDC - MOD29; NSIDC - MYD29; NASA Earth Observations - Sea Ice and Snow Extent
Sea Ice

ATLAS (ICESat-2)

ATL07QL

ATLAS/ICESat-2 L3A Sea Ice Height Quick Look

 ATL07 contains along-track heights for sea ice and open water leads (at varying length scales) relative to the WGS84 ellipsoid (ITRF2014 reference frame) after adjustment for geoidal and tidal variations and inverted barometer effects. Height statistics and apparent reflectance are also provided. The data were acquired by the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) instrument on board the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) observatory.

DOI: 10.5067/ATLAS/ATL07QL.006

 

ATLAS (ICESat-2)

ATL10QL

ATLAS/ICESat-2 L3A Sea Ice Freeboard Quick Look

ATL10 contains estimates of sea ice freeboard, calculated using three different approaches. Sea ice leads used to establish the reference sea surface and descriptive statistics used in the height estimates are also provided. The data were acquired by the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) instrument on board the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) observatory.

DOI: 10.5067/ATLAS/ATL10QL.006

 

Visualize NRT Data Related to Shipping in Worldview

Antarctica MODIS (Terra) Bands 3,6,7
Image Caption

By combining information from MODIS Bands 3-6-7, or VIIRS Bands M3-I3-M11, it is possible to differentiate sea ice from clouds, as seen in NASA Worldview. Red shades indicate ice, while tan and white shades indicate clouds. Such information can be used in conjunction with other data, to provide ships in the Antarctic with up-to-date information on sea ice conditions which are used to help ships safely plot their course through icy waters.