Canadian Ice Service (CIS)20130408The SIGRID-3 vector archive format is one of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) standards for archiving digital ice charts in the Global Digital Sea Ice Data Bank (GDSIDB). The WMO ice chart archiving formats are the Sea Ice Grid (SIGRID) format developed in 1981 and formalized in 1989 and its successor SIGRID-2. The Canadian Ice Service digital Ice Analysis charts (Regional, Daily and Image) are encoded in SIGRID-3 and have two main components: the shapefile containing the Ice Analysis ice information (ice polygons and related attributes) and the metadata describing the Ice Analysis data under the SIGRID-3 format. The Regional, Daily and Image Analyses are all available in SIGRID-3 format.
The Regional Ice Analyses have been produced since 1968; they show the estimated ice conditions at publication date (which corresponds to the valid date) for various regions across Canada. They are based on an analysis and integration of all available data on ice conditions, including weather and oceanographic information, visual observations from shore, ship and aircraft, airborne radar, satellite imagery and climatological information. The Regional Ice Analyses describe areas of differing ice conditions using the WMO ice observing standards, and indicate where significant changes in the amount, stage of development and form of the predominant ice types have occurred. The Regional Ice Analyses for the Northern Canadian Waters (Western Arctic, Eastern Arctic and Hudson Bay) are produced on a weekly basis during the summer season and since 1982 on a monthly basis for the winter season. The Regional Ice Analyses for the Southern Canadian Waters (East Coast and Great Lakes) are produced on a weekly basis during the winter season only. Regional Ice Analyses are also available in arc info coverages, data extraction grid point format, various chart formats and SIGRID-3 shapefile format.The SIGRID-3 Regional Ice Analysis products are mainly used for climate analysis, climate change studies and as input to the Global Digital Sea Ice Data Bank (GDSIDB). They can also provide ice information to marine community to enhance the safety and the efficiency of marine operations in ice-encumbered waters.20130408same as Publication DateNo changes or additions are made to the data set after the data set is distributed. If modifications are made to the data set, a new version is released along with its metadata.312729.02606582187460.2652731568804.538753-17853.55612344none at the present timesea iceice typeice ageice concentrationform of icefloe sizenone at the present timeCanadaEast ArcticBaffin BayDavis StraitFoxe BasinArctic ArchipelegoLancaster SoundNares StraitFoxe BasinWest ArcticNorth West PassageBeaufort SeaViscount Melville SoundAmundsen GulfM'Clintock ChannelHudson BayJames BayHudson StraitUngava BayLabrador SeaDavis StraitFobrisher BayEast CoastGulf of St.-LawrenceSt.-Lawrence RiverCabot StraitNorthumberland StraitNewfoundland WatersGrand BanksGreat LakesLake SuperiorLake MichiganLake HuronLake ErieLake OntarioLake St.-ClairnoneWith accreditation from Environment CanadaThe first step consists on manually creating a Regional Ice Analysis coverage and incorporating data from the various source information. Automated validity checks are performed during attribute (WMO Egg code, in accordance with the World Meteorological Organization standards for reporting ice conditions) and line entry. A topological polygon build is done to clean the coverage, corrections are made (if required) and a chart is produced for manual quality control. Once completed the Regional Ice Analysis coverage is automatically converted to a shapefile, the metadata is generated and they are packaged as a SIGRID-3 product (.tar) for distribution.The ice interpretation (boundaries, concentrations, ice types and floe sizes) of Satellite and Airborne imagery is done visually with the help of climatological data, ground truthing and meteorological data. The reliability and accuracy of the data set is directly related to the availability, resolution and the affects of atmospheric (cloud, daylight, etc.) and ground (snow, rain, sea state, etc.) conditions on the source information. The source information is incorporated in the Regional Ice Analysis if the source information publication or acquisition date is plus or minus 3 days of the Regional Ice Analysis publication date. The only exception is the Regional Ice Analysis source information where we use the previous publication date. Note that the time period information for all source information represent the time period during which it was available and may or may not have been incorporated in the Regional Ice Analysis product.Canadian Space Agency (CSA)variousRADARSAT Imageryelectronic (Satellite)19960313still active source information acquisition dateNational Oceanic and Atmosphric Administration (NOAA)variousNOAA Imageryhardcopy and electronic (Satellite)19701211still active source information acquisition dateUS Airforce (DMSP)variousOLS Imageryelectronic (Satellite)19990521still active source information acquisition dateNASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)variousQuikScat Imageryelectronic (Satellite)20011101still active source information acquisition dateEuropean Space Agency (ESA)variousERS Imageryelectronic (Satellite)1992121820030605 source information acquisition dateEuropean Space Agency (ESA)variousENVISAT Imageryelectronic (Satellite)20031009still active source information acquisition dateNASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)variousMODISelectronic (Satellite)20041201still active source information acquisition dateSIP ChallengervariousSAR Imageryelectronic (Aircraft)1990010119950331 source information acquisition dateCanadian Ice Service (CIS)variousSLAR Imageryacetate and electronic (Aircraft)19780213still active source information acquisition dateCanadian Ice Service (CIS)variousObserved Chartspaper, electronic (Aircraft / Helicopter)19570614still active source information publication dateCanadian Ice Service (CIS)variousImage Analysis Chartspaper and electronic (Satellite)19900118still active source information publication dateCanadian Ice Service (CIS)variousDaily Ice Analysis Chartspaper and electronic19590216still active source information publication dateCanadian Ice Service (CIS)variousRegional Ice Analysis Chartspaper and electronic19680625still active source information publication dateSince 1968, Regional Ice Analyses have been compiled from numerous data sources generally acquired plus or minus three days of its publication date. Over the years, data sources have included a wide variety of satellite imagery, aerial reconnaissance and ship borne reports. Each data source and its availability over the years is described in their respective source information. The Regional Ice Analyses are presently being generated using in house software (ISIS system: ERDAS and ARC/Info).The Regional Ice Analyses for the Northern Canadian Waters (Western Arctic, Eastern Arctic and Hudson Bay) are produced on a weekly basis during the summer season and since 1982 on a monthly basis for the winter season. The Regional Ice Analyses for the Southern Canadian Waters (East Coast and Great Lakes) are produced on a weekly basis during the winter season only.D_WGS_1984WGS_19846378137.000000298.257224Lambert Conformal Conic4977-10040000.111180.11118meters
CIS Regional Ice Analyses in SIGRID-3 formatThe SIGRID-3 vector archive format is one of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) standards for archiving digital ice charts in the Global Digital Sea Ice Data Bank (GDSIDB). The WMO ice chart archiving formats are the Sea Ice Grid (SIGRID) format developed in 1981 and formalized in 1989 and its successor SIGRID-2. A Regional Ice Analysis encoded in SIGRID-3 has two main components: the shapefile containing the Regional Ice Analysis ice information (ice polygons and related attributes) and the metadata describing the Regional Ice Analyses data under the SIGRID-3 format. A shapefile consists of three core files (but may include several optional files). Each file in the set shares the shapefile name with a different extension. The main file (*.shp) stores shape geometry and must always have an index file (*.shx). A database file (*.dbf) stores all the attributes of the shapes in the main file. SIGRID-3 uses the widely accepted, public domain eXtensible Markup Language (XML) for metadata (information on the Regional Ice Analysis and how it was generated). A file in XML stores the metadata that pertains to each Regional Ice Analysis. Metadata includes projection, location, keywords, and contact information. A file in XML can be read using a web browser, and it is easy to make it available for searches via the Internet. To archive a Regional Ice Analysis in SIGRID-3 (.tar), four files are required: three for the Regional Ice Analysis in shapefile format (.shp,.shx,.dbf) and one for the metadata (xml). The database file consists of a set of mandatory and optional fields which are described in the Entity Type Definition Source and are listed below.As per SIGRID standards: undetermined or unknown applicable fields are reported as "99", empty applicable fields are reported as "-9" and empty or unknown non applicable fields are reported as null. Two new attributes (COVSHP_ , COVSHP_ID) are added to the list of SIGRID-3 attributes during the automatic conversion of the Regional Ice Analysis from coverage to shapefile. They are both sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated by the ESRI conversion tool (as is the FID Label). For more information, please refer to the SIGRID-3: A Vector Archive Format for Sea Ice Charts Developed by the International Ice Charting Working Groups Ad Hoc Format Team for the WMO "Global Digital Sea Ice Data Bank" project (WMO/TD-No. 1214, 2004)FIDInternal feature number.ESRISequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.ShapeFeature geometry.ESRICoordinates defining the features.AREAArea of polygonsWMO JCOMM ETSISIGRID-3WMO JCOMM ETSIPERIMETERPerimeter of polygonWMO JCOMM ETSISIGRID-3WMO JCOMM ETSICOVSHP_Internal feature number.ESRISequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.COVSHP_IDInternal feature number.ESRISequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.CTTotal concentration of all ice in the areaWMO JCOMM ETSISIGRID-3WMO JCOMM ETSICAPartial concentration of thickest iceWMO JCOMM ETSISIGRID-3WMO JCOMM ETSISAStage of development of thickest iceWMO JCOMM ETSISIGRID-3WMO JCOMM ETSIFAForm of ice corresponding to SAWMO JCOMM ETSISIGRID-3WMO JCOMM ETSICBPartial concentration of second thickest iceWMO JCOMM ETSISIGRID-3WMO JCOMM ETSISBStage of development of second thickest iceWMO JCOMM ETSISIGRID-3WMO JCOMM ETSIFBForm of ice corresponding to SBWMO JCOMM ETSISIGRID-3WMO JCOMM ETSICCPartial concentration of third thickest iceWMO JCOMM ETSISIGRID-3WMO JCOMM ETSISCStage of development of third thickest iceWMO JCOMM ETSISIGRID-3WMO JCOMM ETSIFCForm of ice corresponding to SCWMO JCOMM ETSISIGRID-3WMO JCOMM ETSICNStage of development of ice thicker than SA but with concentration less than 1/10WMO JCOMM ETSISIGRID-3WMO JCOMM ETSICDStage of development of any remaining ice class of ice not reported by SA, SB, SC or CNWMO JCOMM ETSISIGRID-3WMO JCOMM ETSICFPredominant and secondary form of iceWMO JCOMM ETSISIGRID-3WMO JCOMM ETSIPOLY_TYPESurface TypeWMO JCOMM ETSISIGRID-3WMO JCOMM ETSI20110721Canadian Ice Service (CIS)mailing and physical address
373 Sussex Drive Block E LaSalle Academy
OttawaOntarioK1A 0H3Canada1-800-767-28851-613-947-9160cis-scg.client@ec.gc.caFGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial MetadataFGDC-STD-001-1998201107211200000020110721