VJ129_NRT: Near-Real-Time Sea Ice Cover from VIIRS/JPSS1

VIIRS/JPSS1 Sea Ice Extent 6-Min L2 Swath 375m NRT data provides near-real-time detection of snow-covered sea ice using the Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI). This algorithm, adapted from MODIS, processes radiance data from the NOAA-20 satellite's VIIRS instrument to report ice cover location every six minutes. The dataset is supported by a detailed user guide and algorithm theoretical basis document.

Use Cases

• Monitoring daily sea ice extent changes based on 6-minute swath observations.
• Validating climate model outputs against satellite-derived ice cover.
• Studying polar region albedo and heat exchange using snow-covered ice detection.
• Assessing navigation risks in Arctic and Antarctic waters using near-real-time ice location.

Strengths

• Provides near-real-time (NRT) data, crucial for operational monitoring.
• Uses a proven algorithm (NDSI) adapted from the long-standing MODIS instrument.
• Cross-platform presence on NASA EarthData and Data.gov signals importance and reliability.
• Supported by detailed technical documentation including a user guide and algorithm basis document.

Limitations

• Critical metadata such as column names, row count, and exact data size are unavailable across all sources.
• The listed 'last updated' date of 2026-04 09 appears to be a future date, indicating potential metadata error.
• The 'other-license-specified' license requires users to consult external documentation for precise terms.

Provenance

Source

LANCEMODIS organization, data from the VIIRS instrument on the NOAA-20 (JPSS-1) satellite.

Collection Method

Derived from satellite radiance data using the Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) algorithm.

Time Range

Near-real-time (NRT); specific start date not provided.

Freshness

2026-04-09 20:46:56.062644 (Note: This is a future date, suggesting a metadata anomaly.)

Geography

Global, with focus on polar sea ice regions.