Technology UK CU – The analysis of data with Artificial Intelligence (AI) has paved the way new findings in a variety of different fields. Researchers are currently using AI together with satellite modelling to estimate the thickness of the Arctic Sea ice which can now be measured throughout the year for the 1st time which can enhance weather reports and regional shipping activities.
The research was conducted by the University of Bristol and UiT the Arctic University of Norway, which demonstrated the initial dataset indicating the thickness of sea ice for the entire Arctic throughout the year.
Dr Jack Landy, sea ice scientist at UiT and who was previously at Bristol who was the lead author stated that the melting of Arctic ice was at an all time high and knowledge on the width of the sea ice to lower safety concerns for businesses and shipping across the Arctic together with forecasting for the future climate.
The use of satellites to quantify the width of ice in the Arctic has been in use since the 1980s. But the use of the technique was restricted to winter, between the period of October to March, when the ice and snow are cold and dry.
Dr Landy stated the in-summer months the satellites capture ponds of snow and ice meltwater that float on the sea ice surface, which makes it difficult to differentiate the melting ice from water. To resolve this obstacle the scientists used AI and evaluated prior data from the satellites which led to them finding out exactly when satellites register ice and ocean.
The researchers also designed a new computer model of the satellite sensor to confirm right measuring of height and thickness, that can give an advantage to the shipping industry.
“We can use the new ice thickness data in advanced climate models to improve short-term weather forecasts and our predictions of what climate we will have in years to come, said Co-author Dr Geoffrey Dawson, Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol.
