ICESat-2 Sea Ice Freeboard Estimates From Three Methods

Satellite data from October 2018 onward provides sea ice freeboard estimates using three distinct calculation approaches. The dataset includes sea ice leads for establishing the reference sea surface and descriptive statistics for height estimates. Data were acquired by the ATLAS instrument on the ICESat-2 observatory and are maintained by NSIDC_CPRD.

Use Cases

• Calculating sea ice thickness by converting freeboard measurements.
• Analyzing seasonal and annual trends in Arctic and Antarctic sea ice.
• Validating and improving sea ice models using satellite-derived freeboard.
• Studying sea ice leads and their role in establishing a reference sea surface.
• Comparing freeboard estimates from the three different provided approaches.

Strengths

• Provides three distinct methodological approaches for calculating freeboard, enabling comparative analysis.
• Data originates from the advanced ATLAS instrument on the ICESat-2 satellite, a dedicated observation platform.
• Includes ancillary data such as sea ice leads and descriptive statistics to support height estimates.

Limitations

• Key technical details such as column names, row count, and file size are unavailable from all sources.
• Sources disagree on the last updated date, with one reporting 2025-03-02 and another reporting 2026-03-13.
• License information is not provided, which may restrict clarity on permissible use.

Provenance

Source

NSIDC_CPRD

Collection Method

Acquired by the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) instrument on board the ICESat-2 satellite.

Time Range

From October 2018 onward (ICESat-2 mission start).

Freshness

2026-03-13 20:33:30.417036

Geography

Global sea ice coverage in the Arctic and Antarctic.