Operation IceBridge

Operation IceBridge

Image: M. Studinger

Michael Studinger &IceBridge Science Team &Instrument Teams

Operation IceBridge

IceBridge Background

2008: feasibility and cost analysis: “An analysis and summary of options for collecting ICESat-like data from aircraft”

2009: solicited proposals for instruments for Antarctic campaigns 2009 and Arctic campaigns 2011ad hoc community-based steering committee responsible for flight planning

2010: ROSES call for instrument teams and IceBridge Science Team membersIceBridge Science Team and instrument teams selected based on competitive proposalsshift from ad hoc steering committee to directed mission:level 1 science requirements and science justification

2011: ROSES call for IceBridge science2012: ROSES call for next phase of IceBridge

IceBridge is a directed mission. Project resources are available to meet level 1 science requirements and mission goals, rather than support for individual PI-led projects.

Project Science Office (GSFC)

Project Management (WFF)

Aircraft Operators

Science Team

P-3B (WFF)

DC-8 (DFRC)

B-200 (LaRC)

BT-67/DC-3T (KBAL)

DHC-3 (Ultima Thule)

G-V (NSF/NCAR)

ESPO Campaign Logistics (Ames)

Instrument Teams

ATM LiDAR

LVIS LiDAR

KU CReSIS

DMS Aerial Photography

UTIG (BT-67)

UAF (DHC-3)

LDEO/SGL/USGS NSERC (DC-8)

Science Working Group

NSIDC

EOSDIS (GSFC)

Earth ScienceData Systems

Earth Science Division (NASA HQ)

Flight Programs Research & Analysis

Airborne Science Program Cryospheric Sciences Program

IceBridge: A NASA Mission

Science Team

Ice Sheets and GlaciersKen Jezek (OSU co-chair)Robin Bell (LDEO)Bea Csatho (SUNY)Scott Luthcke (NASA/GSFC)Eric Larour (JPL)Ian Joughin (UW, APL)Mark Fahnestock (UAF)Eric Rignot (UCI/JPL)Ben Smith (UW, APL)Duncan Young (UTIG)Sophie Nowicki (NASA/GSFC)

Sea IceJackie Richter-Menge (CRREL, co-chair)Ron Kwok (JPL)Ron Lindsay (UW, APL)Sinead Farrell (NOAA, UMBC)Dave McAdoo (NOAA)

Website:Level 1 Science Requirements, project documentation, telecon minutes, planning documents, deployment plans, etc.

http://bprc.osu.edu/rsl/IST/ or http://www.nasa.gov/icebridge

Platform and Instrument Suite

Wallops P-3B (Arctic Ocean & Greenland)

• 2 ATM laser altimeters (NASA/GSFC/WFF)• MCoRDS radar sounder (CReSIS/KU)• Accumulation radar (CReSIS/KU)• Snow radar (CReSIS/KU)• Ku-band radar altimeter (CReSIS/KU)• Digital Mapping System (NASA/Ames)• Gravimeter (Sander Geophysics/CU)• Magnetometer (Sander Geophysics/CU)

Langley B-200 (southern Greenland)

• LVIS laser altimeter (NASA/GSFC)

UAF DHC-3 (Southeast Alaska)

• Riegl laser altimeter (UAF)• WISE radar sounders (NASA/JPL)

Northern Hemisphere

Dryden DC-8 (S Ocean & Antarctica)

• 2 ATM laser altimeters (NASA/GSFC/WFF)• MCoRDS radar sounder (CReSIS/KU)• Snow radar (CReSIS/KU)• Ku-band radar altimeter (CReSIS/KU)• Digital Mapping System (NASA/Ames)• Gravimeter (Sander Geophysics/CU)• Onboard data system (NSERC/UND)

NSF/NCAR G-V (Antarctica)

• LVIS laser altimeter (NASA/GSFC)

ICECAP/UTIG DC-3/BT-67 (Antarctica)

• Riegl laser profiler (UTIG)• Photon counting laser scanner (Sigma Space)• HiCARS radar depth sounder (UTIG)• BGM-3 gravimeter (UTIG)• Magnetometer (UTIG)

Southern Hemisphere

Total of 6 aircraft and 16 science instruments

• largest external structureever flown on a P-3

• designed, built, and installedin only 3 months

Next Phase of IceBridge

Ikhana and Global Hawk

IceBridge is imaging Ice Sheets in unprecedented detailGreenland 2011: CryoSat-2 underflight, March 29

MCoRDS Radar Quick Look Image

ice surface

internal layers

bedrock

folding

IceBridge is imaging Ice Sheets in unprecedented detailGreenland 2011: CryoSat-2 underflight, March 29

Snow radar (left) and Ku-band radar (right) Quick Look Images

internal layers

ice surfaceice surface

ice surfaceice surface

internal layers

IceBridge is imaging ice sheets in unprecedented detail

High-resolution (500 m) Survey of Russell Glacier,Greenland to produce bedrock elevation forimproved ice sheet models

Data: John Paden, CReSIS

unique 15 element antenna array for radar imaging on P-3allows for SAR mapping of bedrock below the glacier

IceBridge seeks the involvement of the broad research community to:

o Use IceBridge data to measure and understand current changes in ice thickness

o Incorporate IceBridge data into predictive models of changing ice cover

o Use IceBridge data to improve and enhance the ICESat data set, the developing CryoSat-2 data set and the planned ICESat-2 data set

In addition, we seek community contributions that:

o Vet the scientific accuracy and usability of IceBridge data and data products

o Develop new techniques and algorithms necessary to address IceBridge Projected Science Requirements:http://bprc.osu.edu/rsl/IST/

IceBridge and the Research Community

Operation IceBridge:http://www.nasa.gov/icebridge

Science Team:http://bprc.osu.edu/rsl/IST/

Data is available atNational Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)http://nsidc.org/data/icebridge/No period of exclusivity!

Flight planning tool:http://icebridge.sr.unh.edu/icebridge/ant/

Operation IceBridge

OIB Land Ice Phase 3-4 Strategy• Phase 1 (2008-2010): OIB demonstrated successful, spatially extensive data

collections in both the Arctic and Antarctic • Phase 2 (2010-11): Rigorous science requirements adopted for planning and

mission success analysis• Phase 3 (2012 – 2015)

– Vet data for utility for solving science problems; – increase spatial and temporal coverage (UAVs); – Adopt advanced technologies (e.g. tomography); – develop an end-to-end vision that emphasizes rapid model/process output for resolution of key

science questions

• Phase 4 (2015-2020)– Acquire I-2 prelaunch data to assure quick continuity of dh/dt record– One post launch campaign in Arctic and Antarctic to assure continuity– Continued focused missions that

• Utilize flexibility of airborne platforms• Combine in situ, airborne and spaceborne observation to increase confidence in interpretation• Maintain crucial instruments that are still unique to airborne platforms• Respond to unique, transient geophysical phenomena

• http://bprc.osu.edu/rsl/IST/index_files/PROJECTDOCUMENTS.htm

Tomographic image of Russel Glacier Courtesy of JPL, KU and OSU.

Image compilation of 2011 Pine Island Glacier rift courtesy of M. Studinger.

IceBridge Sea Ice TeamRecent and current activities

• Evaluation of sea ice thickness Value Added Products– Components:

• Sea Surface Height• Lead masking• Freeboard• Snow depth• Ice thickness

– Sound scientific approach– Clear and adequate documentation outlining procedure

• Flight lines recommendations– Increased coverage in Chukchi/Beaufort Seas– Challenge: Fairbanks temporary base of operations

Ongoing

Ongoing

ATM(Air/Snow Interface Elevation)

DMS(Lead Detection)

Snow Radar(Snow Depth)

Ku Band Radar(Snow/Ice Interface Elevation)

Sea Surface Height

Sea Ice Freeboard

Snow Depth

Sea Ice Thickness

Instrument Products Value Added Product

Snow and sea ice density

Lead Detection

Airborne measurement of sea ice thickness is a derived,

versus direct, product

IceBridge Sea Ice TeamRecent and current activities

• Evaluation of sea ice thickness Value Added Products– Components:

• Sea Surface Height• Lead masking• Freeboard• Snow depth• Ice thickness

– Sound scientific approach– Clear and adequate documentation outlining procedure

• Flight lines recommendations– Increased coverage in Chukchi/Beaufort Seas– Challenge: Fairbanks temporary base of operations

Ongoing

Ongoing

Chukchi/Beaufort Seas: Very (!) Early Thoughts