ICESat-2 Land and Sea Ice Depth Observations to Support Operational Weather Forecasting in Alaska

Understanding the extent and depth of ice and snow is necessary to the mission of the National Weather Service (NWS) in Alaska. Commercial fishing and offshore oil drives the economy, so accurate modeling and observation of sea ice extent and depth is needed to ensure all people make it home safely at the end of their work. Land ice extent and thickness information is needed, especially in the early spring, when the winter's accumulation begins to melt and can lead to life- and property-threatening floods. One of the challenges of the NWS in Alaska is having accurate representation of environmental fields in the vast unobserved areas over both land and ocean.

• Kevin Fuell, SPoRT Research Scientist,еКUniversity of Alabama in Hunstville
• Matt Smith, SPoRT Research Scientist, University of Alabama in Hunstville
• Frank LaFontaine, SPoRT Research Associate, Raytheon

Gene Petrescu (NOAA/NWS Arctic Testbed); National Weather Service, Alaska Region Headquarters: Michael Mercer, Environmental Scientific and Services Division (ESSD) Chief; Becki Heim, EESD Regional Program Manager

Commercial fishing and offshore oil; Operational use by Alaska forecasters