SASSIE: Shipboard S-Band Radar Imagery of Arctic Sea Ice Edge

SASSIE 2022 campaign collected S-BAND marine navigation radar images every 10-60 seconds from the R/V Wolstad in the Beaufort Sea. Georeferenced Level 3 images in GeoTIFF format document the transition from summer melt to autumn ice advance within ~200km of the sea ice edge. This dataset supports analysis of how salinity anomalies from melting ice affect ocean stratification and subsequent ice growth.

Use Cases

• [Validating sea ice concentration models] based on [high-frequency radar imagery of the ice edge].
• [Analyzing spatial patterns of ice melt and advance] based on [georeferenced images from a ship transect].
• [Studying upper ocean stratification processes] based on [remote sensing observations linked to the SASSIE field campaign goals].
• [Developing machine learning classifiers for ice types] based on [texture and pattern data within radar images].

Strengths

• High temporal resolution with images captured every 10-60 seconds during ice operations.
• Georeferenced using ship's GPS, heading, and radar parameters, enabling spatial analysis.
• Part of a coordinated NASA field campaign (SASSIE) with intensive in situ and remote sensing observations.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low; specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates between sources (2026-04-09 on Data.gov vs. 2022-09-30 on NASA Earthdata) create uncertainty about maintenance.
• Spatial coverage is limited to the ship's track in the Beaufort Sea during August-October 2022.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Images digitized from shipboard S-BAND navigation radar and georeferenced using range, heading, image orientation, and ship's GPS.

Time Range

August-October 2022

Freshness

2026-04-09 (from Data.gov, though this may be a metadata update conflict)

Geography

Beaufort Sea, within ~200km of the sea ice edge.