Web site enables scientists to monitor sea ice in Beaufort Sea

Submitted by Hal Needham
Phone: (907) 474-7942
11/20/06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has launched a Web site that allows scientists to monitor sea ice movement in the Beaufort Sea.

The site, located at www.iarc.uaf.edu/sitii/index.php, provides a near-real-time map of six transmitters deployed on sea ice this summer. Jennifer Hutchings, research associate at IARC, deployed these sensors as she conducted research on the Joint Western Arctic Climate Study/ Joint Ocean Ice Study Research Cruise, from Aug. 5 to Sept. 14, 2006 in the Beaufort Sea.

Scientists hypothesize that global warming produces stronger storms and these storms scatter sea ice, like a gust of wind moving jigsaw puzzle pieces on a picnic table. In theory, this process could open up leads, or stretches of water within the ice pack, reduce the amount of perennial ice and create a feedback loop that further enhances global warming.

Hutchings deployed these transmitters in the form of a hexagon with a radius of 6 miles. The array will deform as ice drifts in different directions and scientists will use this data to learn more about sea ice movement, especially when strong storms hit the study area. Hutchings is confident that her research will help other climate scientists.

"This improved data will be used to verify sea ice-ocean models"?, Hutchings said. "One can watch the buoy motion in near real time on the Web site."?

William Hibler, research professor at IARC and head of the air-ice-ocean research group, is enthusiastic that such real-world data will improve sea ice-ocean models, because it forces them to consider every variable that affects ice-ocean interaction. According to Hibler, certain variables, such as tidal changes, are overlooked in some models. He believes this data will confirm these variables significantly affect sea ice movement.

CONTACT: Jennifer Hutchings, research associate, International Arctic Research Center, at (907) 474-7569. William Hibler, research professor, International Arctic Research Center at (907) 474-7254. Hal Needham, UAF Geophysical Institute information office, at (907) 474-7942.