VIIRS/NPP Sea Ice Extent: Near-Real-Time Swath Data at 375m

VIIRS/NPP Sea Ice Extent 6-Min L2 Swath 375m NRT data detects snow-covered sea ice using the Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) algorithm, derived from radiance measurements by the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite aboard the Suomi NPP satellite. This near-real-time product provides high-resolution (375-meter) swath data every six minutes, reporting the location of sea ice cover. The methodology follows the approach established by the MODIS instrument, with detailed documentation including a Product User Guide and Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document available from NASA.

Use Cases

• Monitoring daily sea ice extent changes based on NDSI-derived ice cover
• Validating climate and sea ice models using satellite-observed ice location
• Supporting navigation and maritime safety in polar regions with near-real-time ice maps
• Studying cryosphere dynamics from 375-meter resolution radiance data

Strengths

• Provides near-real-time (NRT) data for operational monitoring
• Offers high spatial resolution at 375 meters per pixel
• Algorithm is documented with a Product User Guide and Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD)
• Cross-platform presence on Data.gov and NASA Earthdata signals importance and reliability

Limitations

• Column names and dataset size (rows, file size) are unspecified across all sources
• License is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' without clear terms
• Metadata completeness is low, with missing author and detailed schema information

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Derived from radiance data acquired by the VIIRS instrument on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite, using an NDSI-based algorithm.

Time Range

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

Freshness

2026-04-09 20:57:16.416003

Geography

Global, with focus on polar sea ice regions.