Earth-observing and satellite networks for the Arctic ocean

The Arctic is a vast territory that is relatively data-poor compared to observation networks in the south. There are a variety of information needs that can be met using satellite-based remote sensing including: ice and iceberg monitoring, atmospheric data for weather forecasting, oceanographic monitoring (sea surface temperature, marine winds, ocean colour, salinity), and pollution and ship detection and tracking. This paper briefly describes the contributions that have been made to long-term Arctic ocean monitoring by satellite-based sensors and discuss some of the challenges for the future.