Data Sources and Techniques for Operational Ice Analysis in Alaska Waters

The National Weather Service Alaska Region Sea Ice Program is located in the Anchorage Weather Forecast Office. The Ice Program prepares sea ice and sea surface temperature analyses, and sea ice forecasts for a combined area of over 2.3 million square miles. Our customer base includes various federal and state agencies, U.S. Military, commercial fisheries, transportation, natural resource development and production, environmental research, Alaska Native communities, tourism and recreational mariners. Operational ice analyses require special attention to the marginal ice zone, coastal areas, boundary of ice free waters and new ice development. Data sources range from satellite based instruments to remote cameras, in situ observations from moving and stationary platforms, and aircraft over-flight observations. This presentation will cover how the data sources and techniques used by the Alaska Sea Ice Program are integrated into an operational sea ice analysis to support the NWS mission of the protection of life and property.