Detection Algorithm of Sea Ice Using Geostationary Ocean Color Imager

Abstract

This study introduces a sea-ice detection algorithm using GOCI (Geostationary Ocean Color Imager) which is one of three payloads onboard the Communication, Ocean, and Meteorological Satellite (COMS) that was launched into a geostationary orbit at 36,000 km from the Kourou Space Center, French Guiana, on June 27, 2010. Optical data reveals a difference between sea water and ice which show different optical characteristics due to reflective properties of matter. We investigated the optical characteristics of sea ice for each band and for each area because the optical property changes with respect to the position or sea area.During the two winter periods from December to February, 2010-11 and 2011-12, we applied a sea ice extraction method to GOCI images for the regions the northern areas of the Yellow Sea and the East Sea, and the Okhotsk Sea as shown in the figure. Sea ice was firstly observed in December. Sea ice area had waved back and forth from land to ocean and the extent was getting larger as time passed, and both terms of detected sea ice melted in March. The repetition of freezing and melting would be finely changed in every year. In addition, we try to find a way to show a sea ice intensity instead of sea ice concentration.y orbit at 36,000 km from the Kourou Space Center, French Guiana, on June 27, 2010. Optical data reveals a difference between sea water and ice which show different optical characteristics due to reflective properties of matter. We investigated the optical characteristics of sea ice for each band and for each area because the optical property changes with respect to the position or sea area.During the two winter periods from December to February, 2010-11 and 2011-12, we applied a sea ice extraction method to GOCI images for the regions the northern areas of the Yellow Sea and the East Sea, and the Okhotsk Sea as shown in the figure. Sea ice was firstly observed in December. Sea ice area had wav