HR: 0800h
AN: C11B-0433    [Abstracts]
TI: Community-based sea ice thickness observatories in the Arctic
AU: Gearheard, S
EM: sharig@qiniq.com
AF: National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado at Boulder, UCB 449, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
AU: Gearheard, S
EM: sharig@qiniq.com
AF: Clyde River, Baffin Island, Nunavut, X0A 0E0, Canada
AU: * Mahoney, A R
EM: Andrew.Mahoney@nsidc.org
AF: National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado at Boulder, UCB 449, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
AU: Huntington, H
EM: hph@alaska.net
AF: Huntington Consulting, 23834 The Clearing Drive, Eagle River, AK 99577, United States
AU: Oshima, T
EM: toku@greennet.gl
AF: Qaanaaq, B-31, Qaanaaq, DK-3971, Greenland
AU: Qillaq, T
EM: no-email@nowhere.com
AF: Clyde River, Baffin Island, Nunavut, X0A 0E0, Canada
AU: Barry, R G
EM: rbarry@nsidc.org
AF: National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado at Boulder, UCB 449, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
AB: The thickness of sea ice is a fundamental diagnostic variable for assessing the state of the ice cover. At the scale of the Arctic Basin, the ice thickness distribution determines the volume of the ice pack and its susceptibility to a warming climate as well as affecting the exchange of heat between the ocean and atmosphere. At the local scale, it dictates where and when it is safe to travel on the ice or through the water. Measuring the thickness of sea ice is challenging both technically and logistically and any measurement program strikes a balance between cost and coverage accordingly. Accurately measuring the thickness of large areas of sea ice generally requires airplanes, ice breakers or submarines and electromagnetic or acoustic devices. In this study, we use one of the least technical methods combined with support from remote communities to establish a set of sea ice observation stations in Barrow (Alaska), Clyde River (Baffin Island, Nunavut) and Qaanaaq (northwest Greenland). We employ hunters from these communities, who are experts in traveling and working on the ice, and train them to deploy ice observation stations and take measurements. Each station consists of snow stakes and hot-wire ice thickness gauges and the local observers take measurements on a weekly basis. Involvement of the community is fundamental to the success of these measurement programs and ensures the data collected are relevant to the local use of the sea ice. Community elders and hunters chose the station locations according to where they hunt and travel and to be representative of local variability. As partners in research, the scientists and local hunters are able to share and synthesize their knowledge; the scientific community gains a better understanding of the extraordinary depth of traditional knowledge and the communities improve their understanding of global changes and ability to adapt. Here we present data from observation stations near Clyde River and Qaanaaq. At Clyde River, in comparison with measurements taken by the Canadian Ice Service during the period 1959-93, the sea ice in 2006-07 was below but within one standard deviation of the mean thickness. Combined with local air temperature measurements from nearby meteorological stations, we calculated approximate surface energy balances that indicate the ocean heat flux is significantly greater at Qaanaaq than Clyde River, despite otherwise being similar environments for sea ice. Findings such as this are important in understanding the specific ways in which sea ice is changing in different locales and are vital for community planning for the near future.
DE: 1834 Human impacts
DE: 4540 Ice mechanics and air/sea/ice exchange processes (0700, 0750, 0752, 0754)
DE: 7938 Impacts on humans
DE: 9315 Arctic region (0718, 4207)
SC: Cryosphere [C]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting