Parameter

CT

O

Measurement Range

Measurement Accuracy

Resolution

Comment / Principal Driver

Spatial

Temporal

L

H

U

V

U

V

U

V

U

Concentration

C

%

%

100-1

m- km

1

w

Radarsat, AVHRR, OLS

T

0

100

%

10

%

100

m

1

d

e.g. AMSR-E, SAR, optical

O

0

100

%

5

%

30

m

1

d

SAR, optical

Ice areal extent (and open water area)¹

C

km²

%

250-500

m

1

d

MODIS

T

km²

10

%

100

m

1

d

SAR, optical

O

km²

5

%

30

m

1

d

SAR, optical

Freeze-up and break-up date /ice cover duration²

C

JD/d

1

d

point

a

In situ obs.

T

JD/d

2

d

100

m

1

a

SAR, optical,

O

JD/d

1

d

30

m

1

a

Thickness

C

0

5

m

2

cm

point

1-2

w

In situ obs.

T

0

3

m

5

cm

100

m

1

w

SAR, passive mw

O

0

5

m

2

cm

10

m

1

d

Snow depth on ice

C

0

1

m

2

cm

point

1-2

w

In situ obs.

T

0

.8

m

5

cm

100

m

1

w

SAR, passive mw

O

0

1

m

2

cm

10

m

1

d

Areal extent of floating and grounded ice¹

C

km²

%

10

m

1

w

SAR

T

km²

10

%

5

m

1

w

SAR

O

km²

5

%

3

m

1

w

River ice jams and dams¹

C

km²

%

0.5

m

1

h

Aerial survey

T

km²

10

%

10

m

1

d

SAR, optical

O

km²

5

%

3

m

1

d

Flooding extent caused by jams and dams¹

C

km²

%

10

m

1

w

e.g. Radarsat

T

km²

10

%

5

m

1

d

SAR, optical

O

km²

5

%

3

m

1

d

River icings (aufeis) ¹

C

km²

%

15-30

m

2

m

e.g. Landsat, ASTER, SAR

T

km²

10

%

10

m

1

w

SAR, optical

O

km²

5

%

3

m

1

w