Towards a swath-to-swath sea-ice drift product for the Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer mission

Abstract. Across spatial and temporal scales, sea-ice motion has implications for ship navigation, the thickness distribution, export to lower latitudes re-circulation in polar seas, among others. Satellite remote sensing is an effective way monitor drift globally daily, especially using wide swaths of passive microwave missions. Since late 1990s, many algorithms products have been developed this task. Here, we investigate how processing vectors from intersection individual Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) mission compares today's status quo (processing daily averaged maps brightness temperature). We document that “swath-to-swath” (S2S) approach results more (2 orders magnitude) than “daily map” (DM) approach. These S2S also validate better when compared trajectories on-ice drifters. For example, RMSE 24 h winter Arctic 0.9 km 1.3 DM 36.5 GHz imagery AMSR2. Through a series experiments with actual AMSR2 data simulated Copernicus Imaging (CIMR) data, study impact geolocation uncertainty imaging resolution on accuracy vectors. conclude by recommending swath-to-swath adopted future operational Level-2 product CIMR mission. outline some potential next steps towards further improving making user community ready fully take advantage such product.