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For the first time we can measure the thickness of Arctic sea ice all year round by Staff Writers Tromso, Norway (SPX) Sep 22, 2022
Using satellites, we are now able to measure the ice thickness - also in the summer. This is of great importance for the shipping in Arctic and future weather and climate forecasts. The solution is developed by an international team, led by researchers at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and the University of Bristol. "The Arctic ice is melting faster than ever. We need knowledge about the thickness of the sea ice, both to reduce safety risks for businesses and shipping in the Arctic, but also to make forecasts for the future climate," says team leader Jack Landy at the Department of Physics and Technology at UiT who began the work while at the University of Bristol. The research team has developed the first dataset showing the thickness of sea ice across the entire Arctic and through a whole year. The results are published in the journal Nature.
Satellites are dazzled by the melting ice "In the summer months the satellites are dazzled by ponds of snow and ice meltwater that pool on the sea ice surface. Then they have been unable to distinguish between melting ice and water," says Landy.
Using AI to solve the problem In addition, the team has constructed a new computer model of the satellite sensor, to make sure it is measuring the correct height and thickness. This is good news for the shipping industry.
Safer to sail in Arctic waters The Norwegian Meteorological Institute provide sea ice forecasts for the Arctic but have lacked secure ice thickness data for the summer months. "Using the new satellite data, we are finally able to make sea ice forecasts informed by the ice thickness, not only for the winter, but also for the summer. This will reduce safety risks for ships and fishing boats," says Landy. "We can also predict whether there will be ice or not at a given location in September, by measuring the ice thickness in May," he says.
Increased understanding of the climate He is one of the researchers behind the study and explains that the new data can be used in advanced climate models to improve our weather and climate forecasts. When we use the new ice thickness data in advanced climate models, it will improve both our short-term forecasts for the weather at the mid-latitudes and the long-term forecasts that show what climate we will have in the future," he says.
Research Report:A year-round satellite sea ice thickness record from CryoSat-2
Lake ice melting 8 days earlier on average, study finds Washington DC (UPI) Sep 12, 2021 Ice that forms on the world's more than 117 million lakes is melting earlier in the year, affecting plant and animal life in those ecosystems, according to new research published in Nature Communications. Between 1979 and 2020, the average timing of lake ice break-up across the Northern Hemisphere has advanced by eight days, the research, conducted by Dr. Iestyn Woolway of Bangor University, found. The earlier melt has led to excess lake warming with numerous implications for lake ecosys ... read more
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