Data, now and in the future

A wide suite of EO data ranging from low resolution passive microwave images to high resolution SAR imagery, including in-situ data, will be required to be able to deliver the products in the service portfolio.
The newer high resolution SAR instruments such as Radarsat and Envisat ASAR will play an increasingly important role in the development of ice charting and forecasting. This type of EO data is foreseen to experience a growth of 500% based on today's baseline for the European and Russian Arctic, during the next 10 years to fulfil anticipated ICEMON services.

New methods

Two major steps in the future development of methods will be related with the use of Envisat ASAR, including high resolution modes, the wide swath mode, and the Global Mode, and with the launch of CryoSat.
CryoSat is offering new and improved methods for measurement of ice thickness, which is one of the most important parameters in global climate models. Important results are already obtained using the ERS-1/2 altimeters. These results, demonstrate highly interesting seasonal and interannual variability, and their accuracy will be improved using CryoSat.
Development of numerical methods for data assimilation into models are a research area which are expected to improve considerably, providing forecasts for new areas and with improved accuracy.