Individual weather correction for Antarctic sea-ice concentrations from SSM/I

Sea-ice concentration as determined from the brightness temperatures of passive microwave sensors is affected frequently by high values of atmospheric water vapour, cloud liquid water, rain and sea surface roughening by surface winds. A correction scheme for SSM/I taking these influences into account is presented. Over open water, water vapour, liquid water and wind determined from the SSM/I signal serve to reduce the brightness temperatures to clear sky conditions using a radiative transfer model. When applied to a sample scene, the procedure results in reduced mean value for sea-ice extent, sea-ice area and open water, but increased ice concentration.