Toward improved forecasts of sea-ice thickness

众所周知，北极的冰层面积近年来一直在减少。人们对北极冰层厚度的变化知之甚少。这是因为海冰厚度比卫星海冰范围更难测量。可以使用测量红外波段辐射的卫星传感器的数据来估计海冰厚度。由于卫星观测包含一些误差，应尽可能将它们与其他信息来源结合起来。在这项研究中，我们将结合来自卫星传感器的信息和来自数值模式的信息来生成海冰厚度预测。预测的准确性将通过将结果与独立观测进行比较来验证。特别令人感兴趣的是，能够对海冰厚度进行预测，以提供给船只，以确保在冰川泛滥的水域安全航行。研究结果将被传达给加拿大冰雪服务机构，以便及时应用于实际问题。

It is well known that the ice extent in the Arctic has been decreasing in recent years. It is much less well known how the thickness of the ice in the Arctic is changing. This is because sea ice thickness is more difficult to measure than sea ice extent from satellites. Sea ice thickness can be estimated using data from a satellite sensor that measures radiation in the infrared band. Because satellite observations contain some error, they should be combined with other sources of information when possible. In this research we will generate sea ice thickness forecasts by combining the information from the satellite sensor with that from a numerical model. The accuracy of the forecasts will be verified by comparing the results with independent observations. It is of particular interest to be able to generate forecasts of sea ice thickness that can be given to ships, to ensure safe navigation in ice-infested waters. Results from the research will be communicated to the Canadian Ice Service such that they can be applied to real problems in a timely manner.