The data comprise images (encapsulated postscript and PNG formats) showing the integrated solar irradiance exposure of sea ice. The exposure value for ice at a given grid point was calculated by computing the motion trajectory of that patch of ice across the autumn/winter season (1-March to 1-November). Daily motion data were obtained from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (http://nsidc.org/data/nsidc-0116.html). The integrated radiation exposure was then calculated using daily estimates of downward solar flux from the NCEP/NCAR re-analyses. The values shown in the images are cumulative photosynthetically active radiation expressed in W-days/m^2. Please contact the data custodian before using these data. This work was done as part of ASAC project 2943 (ASAC_2943). See the link below for public details about the project.

This data set comprises animations showing the spring/summer melt of sea ice in East Antarctica and the subsequent chlorophyll blooms. SMMR-SSM/I sea ice concentration data were obtained from the National Snow and Ice Data Centre, and AMSR-E sea ice concentration data from the University of Bremen. SeaWiFS and MODIS chlorophyll-a data were obtained from the OceanColor site. SeaWiFS and SMMR-SSM/I data were used for seasons prior to 2002/03; MODIS and AMSR-E data were used for later seasons. Chl-a data were averaged over 16-day periods. The animations also show the ETOPO2 bathymetry and the fronts of the Antarctic circumpolar current (Orsi et al. 1995).