Image derivation is from the Sea Ice Index data product, which
relies on NASA-developed methods using passive microwave data
from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F17
Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS). The basis for
the Sea Ice Index is the data set, Near-Real-time DMSP
SSM/I-SSMIS Daily Polar Gridded Sea Ice Concentrations, and the
NASA-produced Sea Ice Concentrations from Nimbus-7 SMMR and DMSP
SSM/I Passive Microwave Data. The Sea Ice Index was developed
with financial support from NOAA NESDIS and in cooperation with
NOAA NGDC. Please note that our daily sea ice images, derived
from microwave measurements, may show spurious pixels in areas
where sea ice may not be present. These artifacts are generally
caused by coastline effects, or less commonly by severe weather.
Scientists use masks to minimize the number of “noise” pixels,
based on long-term extent patterns. Noise is largely eliminated
in the process of generating monthly averages, our standard
measurement for analyzin