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At least 235 records · Page 13

Assessment of the AMSR-E Sea Ice Concentration Product at the Ice Edge Using RADARSAT-1 and MODIS Imagery

Imagery from the C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) aboard RADARSAT-1 and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) was used to evaluate the performance of the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer- EOS (AMSR-E) ice concentration product near the sea ice edge in the Bering Sea for four days during March 2003, which is concurrent with the AMSR-Ice03 field/aircraft campaign. The AMSR-E products were observed to perform very well in identifying open-water and pack-ice areas, although the AMSR-E products occasionally underestimate ice concentration in areas with thin ice. The position of the ice edge determined from AMSR-E data using a 15% concentration threshold was found to be, on average, within one AMSR-E grid square (12.5 km) of the ice edge determined from the SAR data, with the AMSR-E edge tending to be outside the SAR-derived edge

Henrichs, John F.↗

Interannual and Regional Variability of Southern Ocean Snow on Sea Ice and its Correspondence with Sea Ice Cover and Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

Snow depth on sea ice plays a critical role in the heat exchange between ocean and atmosphere because of its thermal insulation property. Furthermore, a heavy snow load on the relatively thin Southern Ocean sea-ice cover submerges the ice floes below sea level, causing snow-to-ice conversion. Snowfall is also an important freshwater source into the weakly stratified ocean. Snow depth on sea-ice information can be used as an indirect measure of solid precipitation. Satellite passive microwave data are used to investigate the interannual and regional variability of the snow cover on sea ice. In this study we make use of 12 years (1992-2003) of Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) radiances to calculate average monthly snow depth on the Antarctic sea-ice cover. The results show a slight increase in snow depth and a partial eastward propagation of maximum snow depths, which may be related to the Antarctic Circumpolar Wave.

Markus, T.↗

Evidence of Abrupt Transitions Between Sea Ice Dynamical Regimes in the East Greenland Marginal Ice Zone

Sea ice modulates the energy exchange between the atmosphere and the ocean through its kinematics. Marginal ice zone (MIZ) dynamics are complex and are not well resolved in routine observations. Here, we investigate sea ice dynamics in the Greenland Sea MIZ using two Lagrangian drift datasets. We find evidence of tidal currents strongly affecting sub-daily sea ice motion. Velocity anomalies show abrupt transitions aligned with gradients in seafloor topography, indicating changes in ocean currents. Remote-sensed ice floe trajectories derived from moderate resolution satellite imagery provide a view of small-scale variability across the Greenland continental shelf. Ice floe trajectories reveal an west-east increasing velocity gradient imposed by the East Greenland Current, with maximum velocities aligned along the continental shelf edge. These results highlight the importance of small scale ocean variability for ice dynamics in the MIZ.

Daniel M. Watkins↗

Application of aerosol-ice nucleating particle closure to establish the leading parameters governing ice crystal number concentration under commonly observed mixed-phase cloud conditions

This is the final technical report for DOE DE-SC0021034 award entitled “Application of aerosol-ice nucleating particle closure to establish the leading parameters governing ice crystal number concentration under commonly observed mixed-phase cloud conditions”. The overarching objective of this project was to gain a predictive understanding of the processes that lead from aerosols to ice-nucleating particles (INPs) to ice crystal number concentrations (ICNCs) in stratiform mixed-phase clouds where supercooled water droplets and ice crystals coexist, and to inform climate model parameterizations. During this four-year project we addressed the three main research goals of this objective: 1) Study the aerosol-INP link; 2) Develop an aerosol-cloud column model (AC-1D); and 3) Study the INP-ICNC link. Those activities significantly advanced our predictive understanding of how to represent INPs in could models and its implications on ice crystal number concentrations. The results have been published in five peer-reviewed publications with three more in review and preparation. It allowed for collaboration resulting in additional fourteen peer-reviewed publications that are concerned with the objective of this research project. This research has been communicated to the scientific community at national and international meetings and conferences by numerous talks, seminars, and posters including fifteen invited presentations. This project allowed training of four graduate students and one postdoctoral research associate resulting in one M.S. thesis and advancement to Ph.D. candidacy.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Evaluation of Alternative Altitude Scaling Methods for Thermal Ice Protection System in NASA Icing Research Tunnel

A test was conducted at NASA Icing Research Tunnel to evaluate altitude scaling methods for thermal ice protection system. Two scaling methods based on Weber number were compared against a method based on the Reynolds number. The results generally agreed with the previous set of tests conducted in NRCC Altitude Icing Wind Tunnel. The Weber number based scaling methods resulted in smaller runback ice mass than the Reynolds number based scaling method. The ice accretions from the Weber number based scaling method also formed farther upstream. However there were large differences in the accreted ice mass between the two Weber number based scaling methods. The difference became greater when the speed was increased. This indicated that there may be some Reynolds number effects that isnt fully accounted for and warrants further study.

thermal scaling↗

Ice-Shelf Flexure and Tidal Forcing of Bindschadler Ice Stream, West Antarctica

Viscoelastic models of ice-shelf flexure and ice-stream velocity perturbations are combined into a single efficient flowline model to study tidal forcing of grounded ice. The magnitude and timing of icestream response to tidally driven changes in hydrostatic pressure and/or basal drag are found to depend significantly on bed rheology, with only a perfectly plastic bed allowing instantaneous velocity response at the grounding line. The model can reasonably reproduce GPS observations near the grounding zone of Bindschadler Ice Stream (formerly Ice Stream D) on semidiurnal time scales; however, other forcings such as tidally driven ice-shelf slope transverse to the flowline and flexurally driven till deformation must also be considered if diurnal motion is to be matched

Ice-shelf↗

Ice Accretion Test Results for Three Large-Scale Swept-Wing Models in the NASA Icing Research Tunnel

The design and certification of modern transport airplanes for flight in icing conditions increasing relies on three-dimensional numerical simulation tools for ice accretion prediction. There is currently no publically available, high-quality, ice accretion database upon which to evaluate the performance of icing simulation tools for large-scale swept wings that are representative of modern commercial transport airplanes. The purpose of this presentation is to present the results of a series of icing wind tunnel test campaigns whose aim was to provide an ice accretion database for large-scale, swept wings.

Wind-Tunnel Tests↗

Atmospheric Form Drag Coefficients Over Arctic Sea Ice Using Remotely Sensed Ice Topography Data, Spring 2009-2015

Sea ice topography significantly impacts turbulent energy/momentum exchange, e.g., atmospheric (wind) drag, over Arctic sea ice. Unfortunately, observational estimates of this contribution to atmospheric drag variability are spatially and temporally limited. Here we present new estimates of the neutral atmospheric form drag coefficient over Arctic sea ice in early spring, using high-resolution Airborne Topographic Mapper elevation data from NASA's Operation IceBridge mission. We utilize a new three-dimensional ice topography data set and combine this with an existing parameterization scheme linking surface feature height and spacing to form drag. To be consistent with previous studies investigating form drag, we compare these results with those produced using a new linear profiling topography data set. The form drag coefficient from surface feature variability shows lower values [less than 0.5-1 × 10(exp. −3)] in the Beaufort/Chukchi Seas, compared with higher values [greater than 0.5-1 ×10(exp. −3)] in the more deformed ice regimes of the Central Arctic (north of Greenland and the Canadian Archipelago), which increase with coastline proximity. The results show moderate interannual variability, including a strong increase in the form drag coefficient from 2013 to 2014/2015 north of the Canadian Archipelago. The form drag coefficient estimates are extrapolated across the Arctic with Advanced Scatterometer satellite radar backscatter data, further highlighting the regional/interannual drag coefficient variability. Finally, we combine the results with existing parameterizations of form drag from floe edges (a function of ice concentration) and skin drag to produce, to our knowledge, the first pan-Arctic estimates of the total neutral atmospheric drag coefficient (in early spring) from 2009 to 2015.

sea ice↗

Ice-slurry production for solar-ice systems using supercooling with an in-stream crystallizer

Using ice slurry produced from supercooled water with an in-stream crystallizer opens a new path for solarice systems, increasing efficiency and reducing investment cost compared to ice-on-coil systems. Power needs are decoupled from the stored energy since the heat exchangers are not evenly distributed in the ice storage vessel but directly placed as the heat pump evaporator, which depends on the heat pump capacity and not on the ice storage volume. The novel ice storage design can serve as a heat source for a heat pump, where its evaporator is used to supercool water below 0 °C, or for refrigeration. The supercooled water at a temperature around −2 °C, maintained in a meta-stable liquid state, is triggered to nucleate in an in-stream crystallizer. The current design of the ice crystallizer allows for continuous operation of the system and scalability. Experimental results obtained with a gasketed plate heat exchanger used to supercool water and an in-stream crystallizer operated at a power of up to 6.5 kW are presented.

Thamm, Ann-Katrin↗

Low-velocity impact craters in ice and ice-saturated sand with implications for Martian crater count ages

The paper reports on a series of low-velocity impact experiments performed in ice and ice-saturated sand. It is found that crater diameters in ice-saturated sand were about 2 times larger than in the same energy and velocity range in competent blocks of granite, basalt and cement, while craters in ice were 3 times larger. It is shown that if this dependence of crater size on strength persists to large hypervelocity impact craters, then surface of geologic units composed of ice or ice-saturated soil would have greater crater count ages than rocky surfaces with identical influx histories. Among the conclusions are that Martian impact crater energy versus diameter scaling may also be a function of latitude.

Croft, S. K.↗

Satellite-derived ice data sets no. 1: Antarctic monthly average microwave brightness temperatures and sea-ice concentrations, 1973 - 1976

A summary data set concerning 4 years of Antarctic sea-ice conditions was created and is available on magnetic tape. The data were derived from electrically scanning microwave radiometer brightness temperatures and were mapped into a polar stereographic grid enclosing the 50 deg S latitude circle. The grid size varies from about 32 by 32 sq km at the poles to about 28 by 28 sq km at 50 deg S. The microwave brightness temperatures of Antarctic sea ice are predominantly characteristic of first-year ice with an emissivity of 0.92 at 19 GHz frequency. Sea ice concentrations were calculated from the brightness temperature data for each grid element with an algorithm that uses an emissivity value of 0.92 and an ice physical temperature estimate from climatological surface air temperatures. Monthly, multiyear monthly, and yearly maps of brightness temperatures and sea ice concentrations were created for the 4 years, except for 7 months for which useable data were insufficient.

Zwally, H. J.↗

Ice crystal and ice nucleus measurements in cap clouds

Ice nucleation in cap clouds over a mountain in Wyoming was examined with airborne instrumentation. Crosswind and wind parallel passes were made through the clouds, with data being taken on the ice crystal concentrations and sizes. A total of 141 penetrations of 26 separate days in temperatures ranging from -7 to -24 C were performed. Subsequent measurements were also made 100 km away from the mountain. The ice crystal concentrations measured showed good correlation with the ice nucleus content in winter time, midcontinental air masses in Wyoming. Further studies are recommended to determine if the variations in the ice nucleus population are the cause of the variability if ice crystal content.

Vali, G.↗

Shuttle Imaging Radar B (SIR-B) Weddell Sea ice observations - A comparison of SIR-B and scanning multichannel microwave radiometer ice concentrations

Ice concentrations over the Weddell Sea were studied using SIR-B data obtained during the October 1984 mission, with special attention given to the effect of ocean waves on the radar return at the ice edge. Sea ice concentrations were derived from the SIR-B data using two image processing methods: the classification scheme at JPL and the manual classification method at Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI), England. The SIR ice concentrations were compared with coincident concentrations from the Nimbus-7 SMMR. For concentrations greater than 40 percent, which was the smallest concentration observed jointly by SIR-B and the SMMR, the mean difference between the two data sets for 12 points was 2 percent. A comparison between the JPL and the SPRI SIR-B algorithms showed that the algorithms agree to within 1 percent in the interior ice pack, but the JPL algorithm gives slightly greater concentrations at the ice edge (due to the fact that the algorithm is affected by the wind waves in these areas).

Martin, Seelye↗

Evaluation of icing drag coefficient correlations applied to iced propeller performance prediction

Evaluation of three empirical icing drag coefficient correlations is accomplished through application to a set of propeller icing data. The various correlations represent the best means currently available for relating drag rise to various flight and atmospheric conditions for both fixed-wing and rotating airfoils, and the work presented here ilustrates and evaluates one such application of the latter case. The origins of each of the correlations are discussed, and their apparent capabilities and limitations are summarized. These correlations have been made to be an integral part of a computer code, ICEPERF, which has been designed to calculate iced propeller performance. Comparison with experimental propeller icing data shows generally good agreement, with the quality of the predicted results seen to be directly related to the radial icing extent of each case. The code's capability to properly predict thrust coefficient, power coefficient, and propeller efficiency is shown to be strongly dependent on the choice of correlation selected, as well as upon proper specificatioon of radial icing extent.

Miller, Thomas L.↗

Ice dynamics at the mouth of ice stream B, Antarctica

Data collected in the region of the mouth of ice stream B, West Antarctica, during three field seasons are presented. The physical characteristics of the mouth of ice stream B are described, and the dynamics in the vicinity of the DNB network are discussed. The dynamics of ice stream B from DNB to the grounding line is briefly considered, and a force analysis of the grounding line region is made. The results demonstrate that the dynamic situation of the region at the mouth of ice stream B is distinctly different from either the greater portion of the ice stream upstream or the Ross ice shelf downstream.

Bindschadler, R. A.↗

The influence of ice accretion physics on the forecasting of aircraft icing conditions

The physics which control aircraft ice accretion are reviewed in the context of identifying and forecasting hazardous icing conditions. The severity of aircraft icing is found to be extremely sensitive to temperature, liquid water content and droplet size distribution particularly near the transition between rime and mixed icing. The difficulty in measurement and the variability of these factors with altitude, position and time coupled with variable aircraft sensitivity make forecasting and identifying icing conditions difficult. Automated Pilot Reports (PIREPS) are suggested as one mechanism for improving the data base necessary to forecast icing conditions.

Hansman, R. John, Jr.↗