Collaborative Investigation of Climate Cryosphere Interaction 3

(CICCI 3)

Rune Storvold, Norut/NTNU

NySMAC, Helsinki, April 7th-8th, 2014.

CICCI3 Science Objectives

Multi disciplinary effort addressing key scientific issues where RPAS might play an important role in collecting the data needed for process studies as well as environmental and climate change monitoring.

Sea-ice properties

Snow properties

Glacier properties

Atmospheric properties

Sea-surface properties

Search and Rescue (EPPR)

CICCI3 Science ObjectivesSea-Ice PropertiesAccurate knowledge of sea-ice properties are important both for climate and for industry operating in the Arctic. Currently there is a technology gap in what we are capable of measuring using remote sensing methods today and what is identified as needs (SWIPA, 2011; OG21,2012)

This is a technology development activity where new

sensor systems will be tested and validated.

Targeted Properties• Ice fraction• Ice thickness• Ice ridging • Snow depth on ice• Drift velocities• Tagging Ice Floes

– (for revisiting same ice flow field for repeated

measurements and satellite imagery)

• Ocean, Ice, Atmosphere Heat exchange – (Radiative, sensible and latent fluxes)

CICCI3 Science ObjectivesSnow PropertiesSnow plays an important role in the climate system as well as for society and industry. Properties like snow cover, depth and density affects albedo and heat exchange as well as spring runoff, start of growing season, flood probability and hydropower production potential.

This is also a technology development activity where new sensor systems will be tested and validated.

Targeted Properties• Snow water equivalent (thickness and density)• Snow distribution• Snow layering• Snow surface spectral BRDF• Spectral albedo

CICCI3 Science Objectives

Glacier Properties

Most Svalbard and Norwegian glaciers are retreating. Cost efficient methods to monitor mass changes and investigating changes in accumulation, ablation and dynamic loss are need to better understand the effect of climate change and the future fate of the glaciers.

Targeted properties• Surface elevation model• Glacier facies• Glacier dynamics and dynamic mass loss

CICCI3 Science ObjectivesBC and Aerosol Properties

Affects albedo, therefore energy absorption and hence snow melt giving a positive albedo feedback.

We will use chemical tracer species and FLEXPART modeling to identify the sources and transport pathways of BC to the Arctic. Investigate the effect of BC deposition on the albedo of surface snow and ice. Further we will assess deposition processes, and the processing of BC in the snow layer

Targeted properties• Vertical distribution of BC, chemical tracer species and aerosol properties in the Svalbard region• Concentration of BC in snow, • Snow properties and surface albedo

CICCI3 Science Objectives

Ocean Surface Properties

Demonstrate the use of reflected GPS signal to monitor ocean properties. Preparation for a possible future satellite mission. Connected the FP7 Space projected E-GEM

Targeted properties• Wave spectra• Ocean surface wind• Ocean currents

CICCI Partners and CollaboratorsCurrently Involved:

Norut, NPI, UiT, UiO, NTNU, NOAA-PMEL, AWI

We hope to involve several other groups as well in particular the other stations in Ny-Ålesund and in particular AC member and observer countries.

CICCI3 is open to all interested institutions that can participate and contribute.

All partners must have their own sources of funding, so this effort is coordination of a group of projects that has common objectives and benefits from coordination and collaboration.

Estimated personnel in Ny-Ålesund 30-40 for 4 weeks April 2014

Currently 3 groups operating 4 different platforms.

A 10 day pre deployment in August (13th -23rd ) in preparation for the spring (Snow free data and glacier data)

Collaborate with Arctic Council Working Groups AMAP and EPPR

Primary objective:To understand the effects of the new thin, first year, sea ice regime in the Arctic on energy flux, ice dynamics and the ice associated ecosystem, and local and global climate.

Secondary objectives:•Understand how available ocean heat is mixed upwards towards the sea ice and to what extent it influences the sea ice energy budget.•Understand the fate of solar radiation incident on the first-year sea ice in the region and how its fate is affected by properties of the atmosphere, snow, ice, and ocean.•Quantification of the changing mass balance of Arctic sea ice and its snow cover.•Model the dynamics of the drifting ice.•Understand the ice associated ecosystem and model future changes. •Effects on local and global weather systems.The project is made possible by a joint funding between Center for Ice, Climate and Ecosystems at the Norwegian Polar

Institute, the Polar Institute and the Ministry of environment

Method: RV Lance (http://www.npolar.no/en/about-us/lance/) will be frozen into the drift ice at approximately N83.25 E30 in the beginning of January 2015 and passively drift with the ice probably in a southwesterly direction. The N-ICE2015 is planned to last for 6 months until the end of June 2015.For further information please contact project leader Harald Steen ( steen@npolar.no )

Freeze in: medio January 2015Cruise end: late June

N-ICE2015: drift trajectories

Frequencies Planned Used

433 MHz

868 MHz

900 MHz

5.8 GHz

Downward looking Radars

GPR 4.3-6.3 GHz

SAR 16.5-17.5 GHz

Iridium 1620-1625 MHz