Investigation of physical and biological processes in the Antarctic sea ice zone during spring using in situ, aircraft and underwater observations

Project aim

This work will improve our understanding of the relationship between Antarctic sea ice and Southern Ocean ecosystems, and make use of cutting-edge technology for the calibration and validation of satellite data over Antarctic sea ice. In particular, radar and laser altimetry from a helicopter and upward-looking sonar and radiometer measurements from a long-range Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), will provide regional-scale measurements not previously available in the Antarctic pack ice. The work will vastly improve our understanding of the volume of ice in ridges and the relationship between ice and snow thickness and the distribution of sea ice algae.