Metadata details

AAS_4301_ASCAT_backscatter_parameters

An earlier version of this dataset was referenced by a different DOI 10.26179/5dd60df7469e2
if you need to access the earlier version of the dataset, please contact the Australian Antarctic Data Centre .

All scientific data collected by the Australian Antarctic program (AAp) are eventually described in the Catalogue of Australian Antarctic and Subantarctic Metadata (CAASM). CAASM can be used to search through AAp data descriptions, and it also provides links to access publicly available datasets, which can either be immediately downloaded or obtained from the Australian Antarctic Data Centre (AADC).

Citation
Fraser, A.D. and Cartwright, J. (2024) Advanced Scatterometer-derived Arctic and Antarctic backscatter anisotropy parameter maps, Ver. 4, Australian Antarctic Data Centre - doi:10.26179/91c9-4783, Accessed: 2026-05-30
Title
Advanced Scatterometer-derived Arctic and Antarctic backscatter anisotropy parameter maps
Data Centre
Australian Antarctic Data Centre, Australia
DOI
doi:10.26179/91c9-4783
Created Date
2019-11-20
Revision Date
2024-12-16
Expected Date of Data Release
2024-12-17
Data Version
4
Parent record
None

Datasets and documents

    Related links

    Description

    Using the EUMETSAT Advanced Scatterometer, a C-band scatterometer in polar orbit currently onboard three platforms, we parameterise anisotropy from the normalised backscattering cross-section of both polar regions. This dataset uses a complex parameterisation of backscatter measurements from one to several days, to parameterise the backscatter into several parameters. These parameters have proven polar parameter retrieval application. For more details on the backscatter parameterisation, see Fraser et al., 2014 (https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6527913).
    This dataset consists of 5-daily, 2-daily and daily (depending on satellite platform availability) maps of all backscatter parameters spanning the time period from March 2007 to December 2020, with updates planned. Maps are presented as NetCDF files, and are provided in the NSIDC polar stereographic projection (12.5 km resolution, both hemispheres - see https://nsidc.org/data/polar-stereo/ps_grids.html).

    A data update was provided on 2022-01-17.
    A further data update of minor corrections was provided on 2024-12-17.

    Show more...

    Purpose

    A wide range of polar applications including retrieval of sea ice roughness and moisture content, melt detection, snow grain size, and ice sheet surface mass balance.

    Quality

    Data prior to July 2007 are of lower quality, as detailed in Fraser et al., 2016 (https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-glaciology/article/drivers-of-ascat-c-band-backscatter-variability-in-the-dry-snow-zone-of-antarctica/F0048AF904DDC6F6DC32E42738C95856).

    These data were previously catalogued under a different DOI (10.26179/5dd60df7469e2), but the data have been updted to improve the quality of the dataset (removing/correcting corrupted data), and to add another year of data.

    Access

    These data are publicly available for download from the provided URL.

    Temporal Coverages

    Spatial Coverages

    Latitude

    Northernmost:
    -50
    Southernmost:
    -90

    Longitude

    Westernmost:
    -180
    Easternmost:
    180

    Latitude

    Northernmost:
    90
    Southernmost:
    50

    Longitude

    Westernmost:
    -180
    Easternmost:
    180

    Data Resolution

    Latitude Resolution:
    12.5 Kilometre(s)
    Longitude Resolution:
    12.5 Kilometre(s)
    Temporal Resolution:
    5 Day(s)

    Science Keywords

    Additional Keywords

      None

    Locations

    • GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR
    • CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA
    • OCEAN > SOUTHERN OCEAN
    • GEOGRAPHIC REGION > ARCTIC
    • OCEAN > ARCTIC OCEAN

    Platforms

    • Meteorological Operational Satellite - A
    • Meteorological Operational Satellite - B
    • METOP-C

    Instruments

    • Advanced Scatterometer

    Researchers

    • fraser, alexander (INVESTIGATOR,TECHNICAL CONTACT,DIF AUTHOR)
    • cartwright, jessica (INVESTIGATOR,TECHNICAL CONTACT)

    Use Constraints

    This data set conforms to the CCBY Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

    Please follow instructions listed in the citation reference provided at http://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/metadata/citation.cfm?entry_id=AAS_4301_ASCAT_backscatter_parameters when using these data.

    Project

      ISO Topic

      • CLIMATOLOGY/METEOROLOGY/ATMOSPHERE

      Dataset Language

      • English

      Orignating Centre

      • Australian Antarctic Division

      Dataset Progress

      • COMPLETE

      IDN Node

      • AMD
      • CEOS
      • ACE/CRC
      • AMD/AU

      Publications

      • Cartwright, J. and A. D. Fraser (2021) Polar maps of C-band backscatter parameters from the Advanced Scatterometer, Earth System Science Datasets

      Metadata Revision History

        2019-11-20 - record created by Alex Fraser. 2021-02-25 - record updated by Dave Connell after new data were provided by Alex Fraser. 2021-02-25 - record updated by Alex Fraser. 2021-03-01 - record updated by Dave Connell after Alex asked me to remove the incomplete 2020 data. 2021-03-22 - record updated by Dave Connell to publicly release the data. 2022-01-17 - record updated by Dave Connell to update the dataset with a new dataset provided by Alex. 2024-12-17 - record updated by Dave Connell after a minor data update was provided by Jessica Cartwright.

      Creative Commons License