The Antarctic Sea ice Processes and Climate [ASPeCt] data sets submitted here have been collected systematically from the bridge of an icebreaker, while it transited through the pack ice. Quantifiable observations of sea ice thickness and related characteristics of the sea ice, snow, ocean and surface atmosphere are recorded hourly while the vessel moves through the sea ice. If the vessel is stopped or has not moved at least 6nm since the previous observation, no observation will be conducted. The observation protocol has been endorsed by the Scientific Commission for Antarctic Research (under their ASPeCt programme) as the preferred method for conducting ship-based observations of sea-ice characteristics. Details can be found in Worby and Allison [1999]
The spreadsheet information below is also included in the word document in the download file.
The relevant spreadsheets (xls files) contain the following information:
Header name Physical parameter Unit
Year Year
Date Day/Month/Year
Julian Day Day of year
Time (UT) Time of day in Universal time: Hours/Minutes/Seconds
Lat (oN) Latitude oN
Lon(oE) oE
Conc Total ice concentration Tenth
OW Open-water classification See Worby and Allison [1999]
c1 Ice concentration of primary ice category Tenth
ty1 Ice type of primary ice category See Worby and Allison [1999]
iz1 Thickness of primary ice category cm
f1 Floe size of primary ice category See Worby and Allison [1999]
t1 Topography of primary ice category See Worby and Allison [1999]
s1 Snow type on primary ice category See Worby and Allison [1999]
sz1 Snow thickness on primary ice category cm
c2 Ice concentration of secondary ice category Tenth
ty2 Ice type of secondary ice category See Worby and Allison [1999]
iz2 Thickness of secondary ice category cm
f2 Floe size of secondary ice category See Worby and Allison [1999]
t2 Topography of secondary ice category See Worby and Allison [1999]
s2 Snow type on secondary ice category See Worby and Allison [1999]
sz2 Snow thickness on secondary ice category cm
c3 Ice concentration of tertiary ice category Tenth
ty3 Ice type of tertiary ice category See Worby and Allison [1999]
iz3 Thickness of tertiary ice category cm
f3 Floe size of tertiary ice category See Worby and Allison [1999]
t3 Topography of tertiary ice category See Worby and Allison [1999]
s3 Snow type on tertiary ice category See Worby and Allison [1999]
sz3 Snow thickness on tertiary ice category cm
Sea Sea-surface temperature oC
Air Surface-air temperature oC
