Current Research Projects and Data Archives:
Sunlight Absorption on the Greenland Ice Sheet Experiment (SAGE) - The SAGE program is an effort to better understand the processes controlling spatial and temporal variability of albedo on the Greenland Ice Sheet, particularly including the effects of snow grain size, melt condition and impurities such as black carbon. Data was/will be collected throughout Northwestern Greenland by late spring traverses in 2013 and 2014, and 5 autonomous stations deployed by the project will provide continuous observations of meteorological conditions and spectral albedo along the route.
Ice Mass Balance Buoys - As part of the National Science Foundation Artic Observing Network (NSF-AON) CRREL is funded to build and deploy ice mass balance buoys into the Arctic Sea ice. The buoys monitor changes in the ice thickness occuring at both the top and bottom of the ice pack. These changes are indicative of regional energy fluxes to the ice, and can help attribute ice loss to specific causes. Near real time and archived data for this project can be found at the Ice Mass Balance Buoys Website.
Sea Ice Melt Pond Data - As part of the SIZONET project monitoring the seasonal ice zone, we have been carrying out studies tracking the evolution of albedo and melt pond coverage during the melt season. The data has enabled us to better understand how meltwater interacts with sea ice to control melt pond formation and evolution [Polashenski et al, 2011]. The series of datasets collected in Barrow, AK as part of that project are archived here. The datasets are each collected at a site selected to represent level first year sea ice. Measurements are collected either along a transect (typically 200m long), or over an area adjacent to the transect (typically 100m x 200m). Several datatypes, including albedo measurements, LiDAR surface measurements, snow/pond depths, and fractional surface covereage are included. Metadata describing each site, as well as describing the methods of data collection can be found on each site's page.
2008 - This site was set up in April 2008 and monitored from 5/28/08 to 6/17/08. The study included only transect measurements
2009S - This site was set up in April 2009 and monitored from 5/21/09 to 6/25/09. The study area was 70m x 200m in size.
2009N - This site was set up in April 2009 and monitored from 5/19/09 to 6/25/09. The study area was 100m x 200m in size
2010 - This site was set up in April 2010 and monitored through much of the month of June.
2011 - This site was set up in April 2011 and monitored only briefly in early June.
2012 - These sites were set up in April 2012 and monitored from 6/1/12 to 6/19/12. The primary "Albedo" site was 100x 200m in size and monitored frequently. The "Rough Ice" and "Transitional" sites were monitored only sporadically for pond development.
Data from the 2010 and 2011 ICESCAPE cruises: