D1.6 FRM Surface Temperature Datasets

The key motivation behind Arctic PASSION is to contribute to the co-creation and implementation of a coherent, integrated Arctic observing system. It aims to overcome known flaws in the present observing system by refining its operability, improving, and extending pan-Arctic scientific and community-based monitoring and the integration with Indigenous and Local knowledge. It also aims at streamlining the access and interoperability of Arctic Data systems and services, and to contribute to ensuring the economic viability and sustainability of the observing system.

This document describes the data sets produced by DMI and its collaborators in Work Package 1 of the Arctic PASSION project. Furthermore, the value and concepts of Fiducial Reference Measurements (FRM) in relation to perform end-to-end calibration of satellite products is explained and the total uncertainty of in situ temperature measurements is estimated. 

Three Arctic PASSION data sets are produced in accordance with the main goals of WP 1, namely to contribute to an integrated Arctic observing system that integrates the satellite observation system with traditional ground-based observation. The goal is to produce data sets that feed into other WPs of the project and to facilitate process studies, operational activities, reanalysis, prediction, management and climate models.

More specifically, the three DMI data sets contribute to satellite end-to-end calibration activities, to model evaluation (WP3) and supplement the Pilot Service 6 (PS6) ‘Improving Safety for Shipping in the Polar Seas’. 

The data sets that have been produced are: 1) a 10-year temperature (and more) in situ data set of sea ice in North-west Greenland (AP-InSitu), 2) a 43-year long global monthly mean sea ice surface temperature data set (AP-MMIST), and 3) a 10-year Risk Index Outcome (RIO) data set that can act as climatological reference for operational RIO data for ships navigating in ice-infested waters, and as a ship routing planning tool. 

All data sets are uploaded to public data portals, or in process of being approved by these, for free and unlimited access. The data set are registered in the SAON data portal (https://data.arcticobserving.org/) that is supported by Arctic PASSION.