Relationship between sea ice concentrations and the observed occurrence of sea ice at coastal sites on the Western Antarctic Peninsula
Topics: Cryosphere
, Remote Sensing
, Polar Regions
Keywords: Antarctica, Remote Sensing, Cryosphere, Sea Ice, Macroalgae
Session Type: Virtual Poster Abstract
Day: Friday
Session Start / End Time: 2/25/2022 05:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/25/2022 06:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 40
Authors:
Andrew G Klein, Texas A&M University
Joni L Kincaid, Texas A&M University
Charles D Amsler, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Margaret O Amsler, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Katrin Iken, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Aaron W.E. Galloway, University of Oregon
James B McClintock, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Sabrina Heiser, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Julie B Schram, University of Alaska, Southeast
Ross Whippo, University of Oregon
Abstract
Macroalgal forests exist along the northern portion of the western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). However, few studies have documented the macroalgal distribution farther south in the central WAP. In 2019, macroalgal cover was determined at 14 sites through quantitative analysis of diver-collected video of benthic organisms from replicated vertical transects collected at depths between (20 to) 40 m and 5 m. Satellite-derived sea ice concentrations (National Ice Center Charts, AMSR-E and AMSR-2 and the National Snow and Ice Data Center Sea Ice Index) were then compared to the measured macroalgal cover. A strong negative correlation was found between macroalgal cover and annual and summer sea ice concentrations for 2008-2019. This research utilizes higher resolution optical satellites to explore the relationship between sea ice observed at finer spatial scales more closely approximating the study sites and the lower-resolution sea ice concentrations. Pixels containing sea ice falling within a 1.5 km radius around each site were as determined from daily 1 km MODIS Sea Ice Extent (MOD29P1D) Product. These concentrations were compared to the corresponding sea ice concentrations from the lower resolution satellite sensors for daylight conditions and for cloud cover of 25% or less. The National Ice Center Charts and AMSR-2 retrievals best matched the concentrations observed at the sites in terms of higher (lower) concentrations being retrieved when sea ice is present (absent) at the sites. At the more northern sites, the Sea Ice Index and AMSR-E more frequently indicated low concentrations when MODIS indicated the presence of sea ice.
Relationship between sea ice concentrations and the observed occurrence of sea ice at coastal sites on the Western Antarctic Peninsula
Category
Virtual Poster Abstract
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