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US National Ice Center - Sea Ice Analysis in Antarctic Waters

COMNAP 2015

13 May 2015

CDR K. TaylorCommanding Officer

LCDR R. AtkinsonExecutive Officer

Mr. S. HelfrichActing Deputy Director

USN USCG NOAA

Caryn PanowiczOperations Technical Director

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U.S. National Ice CenterMission

The U.S. National Ice Center (NIC) is a tri-agency partnership of the United States Navy (USN), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the United

States Coast Guard (USCG) providing global ice and snow analysis and short term forecasting services for the maximum benefit of the United States government.

VisionTo be the U.S. government’s authority on global sea ice and snow analysis and

forecasting.

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Goal 1. Develop Capabilities

Goal 2. Transition Science and Technology

Goal 3. Strengthen Partnerships

Goal 4. Professional Excellence

Goals

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USNIC Organization

CommanderNaval Meteorology & Oceanography 

Command(CNMOC)

Commander Naval Information 

Dominance Forces (NAVIDFOR)

Naval Oceanographic Office

(NAVOCEANO)

Naval Ice Center(NAVICECEN)

National Environmental Satellite, Data & 

Information Service(NESDIS)

Office of Satellite and Product Operations 

(OSPO)/ Center for Satellite 

Applications & Research (STAR)

Asst. Commandant for Prevention 

Policy(CG‐5P)

Mobility and Ice Operations Division

(CG‐WWM‐3)

Director of Marine Transportation 

Systems(CG‐5PW)

Office of Waterways and Ocean Policy

(CG‐WWM)

US National Ice Center(NIC)

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U.S. Ice ServicesUNCLASSIFIED

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US Navy

US Coast Guard

Government Agencies

General Public

EducationInstitutions

US NationalIce Center

Global

US  Government

US Coast Guard

General Public

LocalFishermen

EducationInstitutions

NWS AlaskaSea Ice Desk

US Alaska Waterways

US Navy

US Coast Guard

Government Agencies

General Public

EducationInstitutions

US National Snow and Ice Data Center

National Data Archive and Science

US Coast Guard

MerchantShipping

NE AtlanticWaters

InternationalIce Patrol

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USNIC – Global ReachExample of global support areas

Northwest Passage

Thule ResupplyOperation Nanook

USCGNSFMSC

Northern Sea Route USCG &NSF

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Product Generation

SatellitesBuoys Models Ship ObsAircraft International

Partners

+Radar Surface

ObsWebcam

Arctic Maritime Domain Awareness

Fractures, Leads and Polynyas (FLAP)

Hemispheric and Regional

Ice Charts

Annotated Images

Blended Snow and ice cover

Automated Snow and Ice products

Ice Outlooks

Ice Thickness Estimations

Antarctic Icebergs

Blended Snow Depth

Interpretive Snow and Sea Ice Analysis and 

Sea Ice Forecasting

Geographic Information System

Meteorology

Semi‐automation

Subject Matter Expertise

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Geospatial Information Systems

• ARCGIS 10.1 with tailored extension suite (SIPAS) for NIC.• System ingests and processes various imagery sources into Geotif format.• NIC receives Arctic Cap Nowcast/Forecast System (ACNFS) model data from NRL, files are converted

into Geotiff format for display in SIPAS.• NIC receives International Arctic Buoy Program (IABP) data from the ARGOS system, files are converted

into shapefiles for display in SIPAS

SeaIceProcessingAnalysisSystem

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GIS use at USNIC• SIPAS provides “egg tool” that

automatically converts data to SIGRID-3, an internationallyagreed upon export format produced at numerous ice services.

• This vector file preserves all the data from original ice analysis and can be re-projected without loss of information.

CTCC CACaCaSaSaFaFa CBCbCbSbSbFbFb CCCcCcScScFcFc CFFpFpFsFs CNSoSo CDSdSd

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USNIC Data FormatsGeodatabase of selected sea ice parameters enables some sharing of data with international ice services, modelling community, research organizations.

SIGRID-3 – Export format allowingPartner Nation Ice Centers to ingest NIC analysis.

With ARCGIS10.2 +GRIB3Net CDFHDF

NIC PRODUCT FILE FORMATDaily Arctic and Antarctic Ice Edge

ASCIIShapefilesOverlaykmz

Arctic and Antarctic Marginal Ice Zone

ASCIIShapefilesOverlaykmz

Environmental Awareness Products

jpgkmz

NAIS Iceberg Chart .pdf

Arctic and Antarctic Hemispheric

.pdfShapefilesKmz (being revised for publication)

Antarctic Icebergs .pdf.csv

Alaska Ice Information GRIB

Great Lakes Analysis ASCII    Shapefiles  GRIB     .jpgKmz

Ice and Snow Products GRIB2GeoTiff

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USNIC Routine Support

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USNIC Routine Support

A D

CBhttp://www.geographicguide.com/

NIC Product On Demand

Iceberg Database

Seasonal Outlook Ross Sea

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USNIC Mission Support

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USNIC Tactical Support

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Integration With Models

Models provide forecast guidance and NIC analysts incorporate real time data to produce interpretive analysis.

CUSTOMERS & PUBLIC

Navy and NOAA Models

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ACNFS Fields-OPS

Forecasted out 7 days [t000-t168]

Surface WindsMean Sea Level PressureSurface Air Temperature

Sea Surface TemperatureSea Ice Fraction

Sea Ice ThicknessIce Drift

Lead Area Opening RateSea Surface Salinity

Compressive Strength of Sea IceFreeze/Melt Potential

Congelation Ice GrowthLateral Ice Melt

Top Ice MeltBasil Ice Melt

Surface Snow ThicknessSurface Albedo Where Sea Ice

Rainfall RateSurface Temperature Where Sea Ice

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Model and Observational Data

ACNFS 48-hr Sea Ice Fraction Change [t48-t00]

Model showing recession or melt in sea ice fraction over the next 48hrs

Model showing advancement or growth in sea ice fraction over the next 48hrs

ACNFS 48-hr Sea Surface Temperature Change [t48-t00]

Forecasted Warmer Waters

Forecasted Cooler Waters

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ACNFS forecasted fields could improve the quality and awareness of ice conditions for tailored special support.

Ice Exercises Resupply Missions

"Products from N

RL's Arctic C

ap Now

cast/Forecast System (AC

NFS)"

Ice Camps/Field Campaigns

ACNFS for Special Support at USNIC

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Provide location and orientation/directional information on fractures, leads, and polynyas across a given region.

ICEX fracturing event with ACFNS

Reversal in winds and ice drift was predicted 6 days out. Large-scale fracturing was predicted 48-hrs out.

Can NIC use ACNFS to provide 1-7 day FLAP Outlooks?

ACNFS

Illustration from NRL's Arctic Cap Nowcast/Forecast System (ACNFS)

Fractures, Leads, and Polynyas (FLAP)

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Ice Edge Forecasting

48-hr Forecasted Auto-Ice Edge

48-HR DRIFT VECTOR (ACNFS MODEL)

CURRENT NIC ICE EDGE (OBSERVED)

48-HR PREDICTED AUTO-ICE EDGE

Apply ACNFS forecasted drift vectors (drift velocity and bearing) to current NIC observed ice edge

* Experimental product, not currently operational

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USNIC ‘Tie-Points’ ProjectGoal is to improve ice prediction model outputs by provision of precise, high quality ice condition analysis at the model cell level.

Quality feedback into the model to assist in model refinement and in return give back more accurate modeled information for the analysts.

• Sea Ice Concentration• Confidence Level• Date/Time Stamp of Image

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Global Ocean Forecast System (GOFS) 3.1

GOFS 3.1 consists of 3 state-of-the-art components:Ice Model: Community Ice CodE (CICE)Ocean Model: HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM)Data assimilation: Navy Coupled Ocean Data Assimilation (NCODA)

Transitioned to NAVOCEANO Sept 2014 Currently undergoing OPTEST Outputs nowcast/7-day forecasts of ice

concentration, ice thickness, ice drift, sst, sss and ocean currents

Products pushed daily to the NIC and NOAA

Once operational, GOFS 3.1 will replace Arctic Cap Nowcast/Forecast System (ACNFS)

Added capability of forecasting ice conditions in the southern hemisphere

Black line is the independent ice edge location (NIC).

Grid resolution ~3.5 km at the North Pole

GOFS 3.1 ice concentration (%) - 20150425

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Sample Southern Hemisphere GOFS 3.1 Products for 20150425 12Z

Ice concentration (%) Ice thickness (m) Ice drift (cm/s)

SST (°C) SSS (psu)

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CICE and HYCOM

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NIC and NOAA Arctic Action Plan

• Improve ice, weather and water forecasts and warnings.– Improve snow depth, snow cover, ice cover, and ice thickness analysis

for operational model initialization or assimilation.– Integrate new satellite-derived sea ice information into National Ice

Center operations, such as ice thickness, ice concentration, and size of leads (fractures) in ice.

• Strengthen foundational science to understand and detect Arctic climate and ecosystem changes.

– Conduct coordinated calibration and validation of satellite measurements of the cryosphere through in-situ and airborne missions in collaboration with national and international partners.

• Enhance international and national partnerships.– IICWG, NAIS, NASA, U of Washington, IABP, WMO Cryosphere

Watch.– Coordinating with national and international partners to broaden

geographic coverage of Arctic sea ice analysis and forecasting.

Improve Awareness - Broaden Partnerships - Strengthen Foundational Science

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Arctic Strategy/Road MapsCore Competencies

Improve AwarenessBroaden PartnershipsStrengthen Foundational Science

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Domestic Partnerships• National Snow and Ice Data Center

– Archives NIC data.– Co-generates the Multisensor Analyzed Sea Ice Extent (MASIE) with NIC.

• NASA – Goddard & Jet Propulsion Lab– Algorithm testing and development.– NIC is early adopter for NASA SMAP mission.

• Naval Research Labs– Evaluate the utility of new USN models.– Partner on projects for model development.

• Rutgers University Global Snow Lab– Climate Data Record (CDR) using NIC Blended Snow.

• Office of Naval Research– Programs to enhance understanding of ice.

• University of Washington – APL– Coordination for IABP (funding and deployment).

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International PartnershipsUNCLASSIFIED

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• North American Ice Service (NAIS)– Multi-agency partnership between U.S. National Ice

Center (NIC), Canadian Ice Service (CIS), and International Ice Patrol (IIP).

• International Arctic Buoy Program (IABP)– Global participants working together to maintain a

network of drifting buoys in the Arctic Ocean.

• International Ice Charting Working Group (IICWG)– Formed in October 1999 to promote cooperation between

the world’s ice centers on all matters concerning sea ice and icebergs.

• WMO Expert Team on Sea Ice (ETSI)– Formal coordination of sea ice activities on the level of

WMO/IOC that provides technical direction to the WMO Secretariat.

• WMO Global Cryosphere Watch – SnowWatch– Promotes Cooperation between the world’s snow

observing nations.

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North American Ice Service

US National Ice CenterCanadian Ice ServiceUSCG International Ice Patrol

Transform individual organizational strengths into a unified source of ice information…

….. to leverage the strengths of the Canadian Ice Service, US National Ice Center, and the International Ice Patrol to monitor and provide the highest quality, timely and accurate ice analysis, in order to meet the needs of the maritime interests of the United States and Canadian governments

SHARED RESOURCES

Science and Research

Manpower

Platforms of Opportunity

Financial Cost Sharing

Imagery Savings

SHARED RESOURCESImagery Savings est > $1.6m/yr

Man Hour Savings (NIC) est > $ 50k/yr

Local Expertise

Flexibility to pursue new products

Support Joint Missions

Contingency for Critical Products

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US – Canadian Ice Service CooperationNAIS Iceberg chart is produced by IIP from Feb-Aug and by CIS from Sep-Jan.

Mission Support: US and Canadian CG

Transparent Great Lakes product: jointly produced by NIC (Tue-Thu) and by CIS (Fri-Mon).

Coordination of Arctic METAREAs

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International Arctic Buoy ProgramGlobal participants working together to maintain a network

of drifting buoys in the Arctic Ocean to provide real-time operational requirements and research purposes.

United StatesNorwayGermanyRussiaCanadaChinaFranceJapanScotlandSwitzerlandGreenland

The U.S. contributions to the IABP are coordinated through the U.S. Interagency Buoy Program (USIABP), which is managed by the US National Ice Center and the Polar Science Center at the University of Washington, and represent several U.S. agencies, including the International Arctic Research Center, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the Naval Oceanographic Office, the Office of Naval Research, and the US Coast Guard.

SHARED RESOURCESScience and Research

Manpower

Platforms of Opportunity

Financial Cost Sharing

Imagery Savings

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International Ice Charting Working GroupMembers:

U.S. National Ice Center

Canadian Ice Service

USCG International Ice Patrol

Danish Meteorological Institute

Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany

Finnish Meteorological Institute

Icelandic Meteorological Office

Hydrographic Department, Maritime Safety Agency, Japan

North American Ice Service

Russian Federation Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute

Swedish Meteorological and Hydrographic Institute

Mission:Promote cooperation between the world’s ice centers on all matters concerning sea ice and icebergs.

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International Ice Charting Working Group

SHARED RESOURCES

Sea Ice Analysis GIS Files

Man Hours

Local Expertise

Ice Reports

Imagery Savings

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International Arctic Buoy ProgramGlobal participants working together to maintain a network

of drifting buoys in the Arctic Ocean to provide real-time operational requirements and research purposes.

United StatesNorwayGermanyRussiaCanadaChinaFranceJapanScotlandSwitzerlandGreenland

The U.S. contributions to the IABP are coordinated through the U.S. Interagency Buoy Program (USIABP), which is managed by the US National Ice Center and the Polar Science Center at the University of Washington, and represent several U.S. agencies, including the International Arctic Research Center, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the Naval Oceanographic Office, the Office of Naval Research, and the US Coast Guard.

SHARED RESOURCESScience and Research

Manpower

Platforms of Opportunity

Financial Cost Sharing

Imagery Savings

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JCOMM Expert Team on Sea IceSHARED RESOURCESGlobal Standardization

Subject Matter Expertise

Financial Resources-manpower

WMO/IOC representation

- Formal coordination of sea ice activities on the level of WMO/IOC;closed membership (from various international ice centers) defined at JCOMM sessions; under WMO standards; formal linkages with IHO/IMO (via Secretariat); finalize and provide technical directionto WMO Secretariat.

- Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and MarineMeteorology, is an intergovernmental body of technical experts that provides a mechanism for international coordination ofoceanographic and marine meteorological observing, data management and services, combining the expertise, technologiesand Capacity Development capabilities of the meteorological and oceanographic communities

Collaboration Efforts:•Sea Ice Analysis Training via International

Ice Analyst Workshops

•Supporting Issues for GMDSS in Arctic

•Catalogue Met-Ocean Object Class for

ENC and e-navigation

•Ice Information in ENC’s

•Update sea ice standards

•Global Sea Ice Digital Data Bank

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Contact Information

Command Duty Officer : 301-943-6977

UNCLAS: nic.cdo@noaa.gov

P.O.C. Caryn Panowicz (301)-817-3942

UNCLAS: caryn.panowicz@noaa.gov

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DiscussionUNCLASSIFIED

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