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EPSG:3413 — WGS 84 / NSIDC Sea Ice Polar Stereographic North

NSIDC Sea Ice Polar Stereographic North — the standard CRS for Arctic sea-ice and polar climate datasets.

Code
EPSG:3413
Type
Projected
Area
World - N hemisphere - north of 60°N

PROJ definition

+proj=stere +lat_0=90 +lat_ts=70 +lon_0=-45 +x_0=0 +y_0=0 +datum=WGS84 +units=m +no_defs +type=crs

Geographic bounds

W -180°   S 60°   E 180°   N 90°

Convert coordinates with EPSG:3413

About EPSG:3413

EPSG:3413 is the WGS 84 / NSIDC Sea Ice Polar Stereographic North projection: a polar stereographic projection true at 70°N, central meridian 45°W, on the WGS 84 ellipsoid. It is the standard CRS for the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) sea-ice products and many Arctic climate datasets (NASA, ESA).

For glaciology and climate-science workflows in the Arctic, EPSG:3413 is the de-facto standard. The Antarctic counterpart is EPSG:3031 (Antarctic Polar Stereographic). The EASE-Grid 2.0 alternatives (EPSG:6931 polar, EPSG:6933 cylindrical) are used by NSIDC for newer global ice products.

Common use cases

  • NSIDC sea-ice extent and concentration products
  • Arctic climate raster data (NASA, ESA Sentinel)
  • Glaciology and ice-sheet modelling

Common transformations from EPSG:3413

Frequently asked questions

When should I use EPSG:3413 vs EPSG:6931?
EPSG:3413 (NSIDC Polar Stereographic North) is required by most legacy NSIDC sea-ice products. EPSG:6931 (EASE-Grid 2.0 North, Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area) is preferred for newer area-based analysis because it is equal-area.
What is the proj4 string for EPSG:3413?
The proj4 definition for EPSG:3413 is: +proj=stere +lat_0=90 +lat_ts=70 +lon_0=-45 +x_0=0 +y_0=0 +datum=WGS84 +units=m +no_defs +type=crs
Where is EPSG:3413 used?
EPSG:3413 (WGS 84 / NSIDC Sea Ice Polar Stereographic North) is defined for the area: World - N hemisphere - north of 60°N.