CryoSat‐2 estimates of Arctic sea ice thickness and volume

Satellite records show a decline in ice extent over more than three decades, with a record minimum in September 2012. Results from the Pan‐Arctic Ice‐Ocean Modelling and Assimilation system (PIOMAS) suggest that the decline in extent has been accompanied by a decline in volume, but this has not been confirmed by data. Using new data from the European Space Agency CryoSat‐2 (CS‐2) mission, validated with in situ data, we generate estimates of ice volume for the winters of 2010/11 and 2011/12. We compare these data with current estimates from PIOMAS and earlier (2003–8) estimates from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ICESat mission. Between the ICESat and CryoSat‐2 periods, the autumn volume…

• NS
  National Science Foundation
• NA
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• ES
  European Space Agency
• SR
  Sight Research UK

  Awards: NE/H01635X/1, cpom20001
• AI
  Alberta Ingenuity
• DZ
  Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt
• NE
  Natural Environment Research Council

  Awards: NE/H01635X/1, cpom20001