Extension of the QuikSCAT Sea Ice Extent Data Set With OSCAT Data

The Ku-band Oceansat-2 Scatterometer (OSCAT) is very similar to the Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT), which operated from 1999 to 2009. OSCAT continues the Ku-band scatterometer data record through 2014 with an overlap of 19 days with QuikSCAT's mission in 2009. This letter discusses a particular climate application of the time series for sea ice extent observation. In this letter, a QuikSCAT sea ice extent algorithm is modified for OSCAT. Gaps in OSCAT data are accounted for and filled in to support sea ice extent mapping. The OSCAT sea ice extent data are validated with QuikSCAT and Special Sensor Microwave/Imager sea ice extent data.