Ice mass balance buoy network: Coordination with DAMOCLES

Jackie Richter-Menge and Don Perovich

Sea ice mass balance

Attributes change

• Simple concept• snow accumulation• snow melt• ice growth• surface melt• bottom melt

• Powerful tool: • shows how changes occur• growth or decay

• Difficult logistics

Above

Below

Autonomous ice mass balance buoys

Almost as good as being there

• Readings every 1-4 hours• Data “beamed” to desktop• Results include

• snow accumulation and melt• ice growth• ice surface and bottom ablation• air, ice, ocean temperature• net surface heat budget• ocean heat flux

Sample results

Thermal evolution of the ice

Deployment plans

Collocation is the key – we love to partner

• Partner with other groups• DAMOCLES • NPEO• BGOS• IABP

• Collocate with• atmosphere• ocean

• Integrate with• remote sensing• models

Sea Level Pressure (hPa)

Surface Air Temperature (°C)

Data archiving and dissemination

http://www.crrel.usace.army.mil/sid/IMB/index.htm

• Web site with all data and metadata• Easy downloads• Plus all other archiving requirements