MRI: Development of a Long-range Airborne Snow and Sea Ice Thickness Observing System (LASSITOS)

对大尺度海冰厚度的准确了解对于了解北极冰盖的当前和未来状态以及对北极海洋环境的短期和长期预测至关重要。随着北极冰盖经历从常年冰向季节性冰的重大转变，冰厚度--比冰范围更大--是描述冰-海洋系统状态和演变的关键变量。然而，缺乏在区域或盆地尺度上以足够的精度和分辨率观测海冰厚度的方法，以捕捉生长和融化过程、发现危险或评估栖息地质量。该项目将开发一种能够集成到远程无人机系统(UAS)中的机载电磁(AEM)雪雷达系统。这将使获取盆地规模的冰层厚度和积雪深度数据成为北极观测网络的一部分，以满足研究人员、当地社区和行业的信息需求。这一核磁共振成像开发项目将为NSF导航新北极大构想做出贡献。AEM方法提供了一种在极地地区发现的所有厚度范围内测量海冰厚度的新方法。通过遥感冰盖上表面和下表面的位置，AEM测量通常实现优于总厚度10%的精度，对积雪或海面地形的不确定性不那么敏感。远程机载雪和海冰厚度观测系统(LASSITOS)的开发和调试也将为教育和培训提供机会，包括阿拉斯加大学费尔班克斯大学新辅修航空工程的顶石项目，以及学生参与全面的校准/验证实地活动。LASSITOS预计将引起来自阿拉斯加北部沿海村庄的土著学生的兴趣，他们代表着海冰信息的另一个关键利益攸关方群体。这个项目的领导者是一位职业生涯早期的研究人员。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Accurate knowledge of sea ice thickness over large scales is crucial for understanding the current and future states of the Arctic ice cover, and for near- and long-term predictions of Arctic marine environments. With the Arctic ice pack undergoing a major transition from perennial to seasonal ice, ice thickness - more so than ice extent - is a key variable describing the state and evolution of the ice-ocean system. However, methods of observing sea ice thickness at regional or basin scales with sufficient accuracy and resolution to capture growth and melt processes, detect hazards, or assess habitat quality are lacking. This project will develop an Airborne electromagnetic (AEM) snow radar system capable of being integrated into long-range Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). This will allow acquisition of basin-scale ice thickness and snow depth data as part of a network for Arctic observations that addresses information needs of researchers, local communities and industry. This MRI development project will contribute to NSF's Navigating the New Arctic Big Idea. AEM methods offer a novel means of measuring sea ice thickness over the full range of thicknesses found in the Polar Regions. By remotely sensing the positions of the upper and lower surfaces of the ice cover, AEM measurements typically achieve an accuracy of better than 10% of the total thickness, with less sensitivity to uncertainties in snow cover or sea surface topography. Development and commissioning of the Long-range Airborne Snow and Sea Ice Thickness Observing System (LASSITOS) will also provide opportunities for education and training, including capstone projects for the University of Alaska Fairbanks' new minor in aeronautical engineering and student involvement in comprehensive calibration/validation field activities. LASSITOS is expected to generate interest among native students from coastal villages in northern Alaska, who represent another key stakeholder group for sea ice information. The leader of this project is an early-career researcher.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.