Satellite derived estimates of the interannual variability of the heat balance and polynya ice production for the Okhotsk Sea

For the period 1979-1997, we use passive microwave and meteorological data to investigate the interannual variability of the polynya ice and brine production in the Okhotsk Sea. The work is a continuation of an earlier investigation (Martin et al. 1998) of the Okhotsk polynya properties for the years 1990-1995. We extend this previous work back to 1979, by running the thin ice/open water algorithm with SMMR (Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer) data. Because the SMMR was only turned on at every other day intervals, our data consists of four-day averages, and thus is less accurate than our SSM/I analysis. The importance of extending this series backwards, is that in 1979, the Okhotsk had a maximum ice extent of almost 100% of the total area, while the recent maximums are about 50%.