The spatial distribution of the ground data together with the SMOS ice thickness (UH product) is shown in Fig. 7. It should be noted that the UB thickness product (not shown) resembles the spatial patterns but resolves ice thickness only up to a maximum of 0.5 m (thus, a retrieved thickness of 0.5 m means thickness ≥0.5 m). The statistical parameters of the comparisons are summarized in Table 2.The overall linear correlation coefficient between the combined ground data and the two different SMOS thickness products is R = 0.75.The day with the highest insitu gradient,March 24 with tracks including the patch of thick deformed ice, shows a higher correlation co-efficient of about R ≈ 0.9 (Fig. 8). Other days with a smaller gradient show smaller correlations.