Sea Ice

The aim of this continuing study is to map and document the spatial and temporal distribution of recurring lead systems, coastal polynyas and landfast ice in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. The study region encompasses the entire northern coast of Alaska and parts of the Russian and Canadian coasts. This includes oil and gas leases sold in 2008 for which sea-ice information is lacking. The region and its sea ice cover are also of importance to protected marine mammals and birds. Dramatic reductions in Arctic summer sea ice extent since 2005 lend urgency to the need for improved knowledge and understanding of the physical sea ice environment in this region of the Arctic.

For the first part of this project I carried out the geocoding of the SAR imagery. In the second part of the project (still ongoing), I also generate the SAR mosaics and the gradient images from which the sea ice edge is delineated.

The project website is located here.