The nature of the NIC ice analysis and production system does not allow for simultaneous publishing of the GIS form of our ice charts (ARC/INFO polygon coverages) and our WMO-compliant, .GIF format graphic charts (also known as "egg charts").

In general, you can expect completion of .e00 ARC/INFO interchange format ice charts a few days after posting of the corresponding "Egg Charts" for the Alaska and Great Lakes regions, and longer delays for all other regions. The following list will provide our GIS customers with some idea of the time difference between posting of "Egg Charts" and posting of corresponding .e00 charts:

Alaska, Great Lakes and Yellow Sea Regions: Several days

Atlantic regions: 3 – 4 weeks

Pacific regions (except Alaska and Yellow Sea): 6 – 8 weeks

Antarctic regions: 3 – 4 months