Accuracy and precision when deriving sea-ice thickness from thermistor strings: a comparison of methods

A precise knowledge of landfast sea-ice (fast-ice) thickness is relevant to many different disciplines. Sea Ice Monitoring Stations (SIMS) are used to measure time series of fast-ice thickness at a location. SIMS measure ice and ocean temperature via thermistor strings with many different methods fo...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Glaciology
Main Authors: Maren E. Richter, Greg H. Leonard, Inga J. Smith, Pat J. Langhorne, Andrew R. Mahoney, Matthew Parry
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2023
Subjects:
Glaciological instruments and methods
ice temperature
ice thickness measurements
sea ice
sea-ice growth and decay
Environmental sciences
GE1-350
Meteorology. Climatology
QC851-999
Chukchi Sea
McMurdo Sound
Antarc*
Antarctica
Chukchi
Journal of Glaciology
Sea ice
Alaska
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2022.108
https://doaj.org/article/bc1d2e18180148628965541740468024
Description
Summary:A precise knowledge of landfast sea-ice (fast-ice) thickness is relevant to many different disciplines. Sea Ice Monitoring Stations (SIMS) are used to measure time series of fast-ice thickness at a location. SIMS measure ice and ocean temperature via thermistor strings with many different methods for extracting sea-ice thickness from temperature existing. This study investigates: if thickness results from temperature recorded by SIMS of different designs, and analysed with different methods are comparable; which methods are recommended for their robustness, precision and accuracy and how they compare to independent thickness measurements; how otherwise unuseable data can be salvaged through specific SIMS designs. We present an analysis of fast-ice thickness calculated from SIMS deployed in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica and in the Chukchi Sea near Utqiaġvik, Alaska, over two decades. We find that median thicknesses derived by different methods agree within 1 ± 1.5 cm for McMurdo Sound and 2 ± 3 cm for Utqiaġvik. Thus, it is possible to confidently compare data collected from different stations and analysed with different methods. The vertical gradient of sea-ice temperature gives the best results for fast-ice thickness during the growth season and including standard resistors in a thermistor string can reduce potential data loss due to noise.

Similar Items