AOOS seaice observations off Barrow, AK

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AOOS sea-ice observations off Barrow, AK
Hajo Eicken, Geophysical Institute, University of
Alaska Fairbanks hajo.eicken_at_gi.alaska.edu

• Background
• Radar system
• Ice mass balance site
• Status and plans

A. Mahoney
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How do large-scale changes in the sea-ice regime
play out at the local level? Hazard
monitoring Predictive and planning tool for
stakeholders Downscaling oflarge-scale obs.
predictions
Comiso et al. (2003)
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Ice hazards Winter and spring sea-ice break-out
events
Barrow
December 13, 2001 Ice breaks out from gt15 km
stretch of coastline at Barrow (follow-up events
in March and May required Search and Rescue
operations for roughly 50 people)
Photo Craig George
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Ice hazardsIce push events (ivu)with repeated
occurrences in recent years
Photos A. Mahoney
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Sea Ice Radar and Web Cam
Digital interface (Xenex 2000N) for commercial
Furuno 12kW, X-Band marine radar system for
monitoring of ice motion, stability and seasonal
evolution Installed at one of highest points
in town (through collaboration with BASC and
ASRC) for range on the order of 20-30km Planned
operation of radar includes control and data
transfer via DSL from/to UAF with near-realtime
online availability Web cam mounted alongside
radar for visual assessment of ice conditions
Other potential applications in monitoring of
ocean swell, storms etc.
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Sea Ice Mass Balance Site
Integrated mass-balance site provides data on
ice thickness and temperature, air temperature
and snow accumulation, instantaneous sealevel
(experimental approach in response to stakeholder
comments regarding access to near-realtime
sealevel data) Wireless data transfer to BASC
planned at hourly intervals
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Status and outlook
Individual users have been contacted for data
needs and guidance Barrow AOOS Users Meeting
scheduled for early 2006 Agreement in place
between BASC and ASRC for radar installation and
support on ASRC-owned building Radar has been
mounted at site completed dry run problems
with manufacturer not meeting specs in regards
to connectivity and data handling requiring
further work and causing delays (and placing more
of a burden on BASC due to unforeseen increase in
complexity of installation tasks) Mass balance
site components purchased and in process of
assembly to be deployed once ice cover has
stabilized in late January General remark
regarding AOOS-community linkages Barrow is an
ideal site to develop, test and refine an
effective, user-oriented observation network with
strong ties into the community (incl.
community-based ancillary observations) BASC has
expertise and track-record in fostering and
supporting this type of work take advantage of
this opportunity to develop strategies, a
protocol and guidelines?