Ice Resources

• Ice Science

  

  Observing ice is an important component in making new discoveries about the many curious and fascinating aspects of frozen water and its role the environment and people’s lives. Below we provide some examples of what scientists have learned about ice so far and hints at some of the many questions that new ice observations may help answer.

  Coming Soon:

  Basic Frozen Water Knowledge and Discovery
  
  Freshwater Ice and Climate Change
  
  Applying Ice Science to Society

• Ice Fun & Learning

  

  When ice is safe, its very fun to play on and play leads to learning, discovery, and eventually in many cases science and kids becoming scientists as adults. An important part of the Fresh Eyes on Ice observation network is to encourage kids to learn about basics physics, weather and climate, the environment, as well as collecting data, working with numbers, applying math, etc.―at the same time as helping us collect valuable data on ice and snow. We will be actively working with teachers, parents, and other educators on age-appropriate ice learning activities and plans. We also very much welcome input from teachers, kids, and anyone interested in ice fun and learning. Below are some ice fun and learning resources we are beginning to compile and develop for Fresh Eyes on Ice.

  Coming Soon:

  Ice Fun and Learning Videos
  
  Activities for Learning about Ice Physics

   

• Freshwater Ice in the Arctic System

  

  One of the goals of the Fresh Eyes on Ice project is to provide data products and analysis to support broader understanding of the Arctic system. Just as permafrost-, sea-, and glacier-ice are well known, dynamics, and interacting elements of our changing planet, so is freshwater ice. Addressing questions about how river and lake ice interacts with the hydrologic cycle, energy balance, carbon emissions, and biological communities, as well as human society, starts by providing comprehensive data sets to understand the spatial and temporal dynamics of freshwater ecosystems in the cryosphere. Below are examples of research projects and results that explore Freshwater Ice in the Arctic System.

  Past and Present Research

  Arctic Lake Ice System Science

  Arctic Freshwater Systems: Hydrology and Ecology

  Research Products Linking Freshwater Ice to the Arctic System

  Depth, ice thickness, and ice‐out timing cause divergent hydrologic responses among Arctic lakes

  Arctic sea ice decline contributes to thinning lake ice trend in northern Alaska

• Ice Safety

  

  One of the goals of the Fresh Eyes on Ice project is to provide data to help in making decision about safe travel and recreation on Alaska rivers and lakes. Once Observations & Data begin to be publicly available for the winter of 2019-20, estimates of ice thickness and overflow conditions can be used to make decisions about general ice conditions. However, extra precaution is always advised in using these data because ice conditions can vary greatly from place to place, particularly on rivers. Especially early and late in the winter use extra precautions such as traveling with personal flotation devices, ropes, and ice picks.

  The following links provide more detailed information for evaluating safe ice conditions and preparing for ice emergencies.

  General Ice Thickness Guidelines (Minnesota DNR)

  Ice Thickness Safety Information (Bethel Search & Rescue)

  On Dangerous Ice (UAF Project Jukebox)

  Overflow & Slush (WinterTrekking.com)

  Ice Rescue (Minnesota DNR)

  Ice Fall-through Self-rescue Video

  Additional safety information for conducting ice learning activities with school classes can also be found (coming soon!) in Fresh Eyes on Ice Community-based Monitoring protocols in Science & Learning and guidance in using data to evaluate safe and recreation and travel conditions in Communities & Outreach.

• Local Ice Knowledge

  

  Many people in northern regions naturally build great knowledge about ice on rivers and lakes. A native elder who grew up hunting, fishing, and traveling in the Arctic. A hard core ice fisherperson who religiously tracks ice thickness and overflow conditions. A North Slope oilfield worker with many years of experience pumping water from lakes to build ice road. Often times its year-round residents living by a lake or river pay close attention when ice first forms in the fall and goes out in the spring. Knowledge from all of these examples and more can be considered sources of local ice knowledge. As part of the Fresh Eyes on Ice observation network we are working to bring this extremely useful knowledge to inform ice datasets, science, and safety.

  Below we provide some sources of local ice knowledge that we are working to synthesize and very much welcome contributions or introductions to new people with fresh or ancient eyes on ice!

  Coming Soon:

  Ice Knowledge from Indigenous Sources

  Local Ice Reports and Blogs

  Historic Accounts of Freshwater Ice Conditions

• Ice in the Media

  

  Alaska Ice News

  • New Project Links Communities with River and Lake Ice Monitoring
  • Alaska Relies on Ice
  • Record warm March brings flurry of Nenana Ice Classic guesses
  • Weather Service Warns of Thin Ice on Chena River
  • Watch out for overflow
  • Ice road along Kuskokwim River a “blessing” for villages

   

  National Ice News

  • Lake Erie shoreline ice shove
  • Massive, spinning ice disc forms in freezing river
  • Ice jam flooding on the Grand River
  • Polar vortex freezes Chicago River

   

  International Ice News

  • Art and patience in Russian ice fishing
  • Climate could leave more lakes ice-free
  • Snowcat sinks to bottom of Yukon River at Dawson City