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National Science Foundation Award #0454831

Collaborative Research: A New Look at the Northern Hemisphere Sea Ice Concentration

 
Investigator(s): Charles Fowler (PI) ; Florence Fetterer (Co-PI)
Sponsor: University of Colorado at Boulder, CO 80309 3034926221
Start Date/Expiration Date 2005-03-15 to 2006-02-28 (amended 2005-03-02)
Awarded Amount to Date: $25,500
Abstract: Funds are provided to use a new data set of Northern Hemisphere sea ice concentration, derived from weekly operational ice charts spanning more than three decades (1972-2004), to analyze: (1) long-term regional variability and trends in sea ice area and extent; (2) the changing mix of ice types in the Arctic Ocean, in order to understand the recent record low summer ice extent minima; (3) the duration of the ice season, as an indicator of climate change; and (4) the modes of variability of the ice edge, in order to develop a predictive capability for sea ice extent. The data set is largely independent of the popular passive microwave sea ice concentration products that are heavily used by the sea ice community. Sea ice extent is believed by many to be a bellwether of environmental response to climate change in the Arctic. This project will utilize a long historical data set in an efficient manner to document the variability of this parameter. The results are anticipated to be important for the verification and skill assessment of climate models.
NSF Org: ARC - Arctic Sciences Section
Award Number: 0454831
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: William J. Wiseman, Jr.
ARC Arctic Sciences Section
OPP Office of Polar Programs
NSF Program(s): ARCTIC NATURAL SCIENCES
Field Application(s): Polar Programs-Related
Program Reference Code(s): ARCTIC RESEARCH, 1079
UNASSIGNED, 0000
Program Element Code(s): 5280