Objectives
Mission
- Recall the mission of the National/Naval Ice Center (NIC).
- List and describe the routine products available from the NIC.
- Explain the procedure to request support from the NIC.
Ice Climatology
- On a map, show the geographical area seasonally affected by sea ice and icebergs.
- Recall the general time frame of when each of the geographical areas would see ice formation and melt.
- Describe current and forecast trends in sea ice extent.
Ice Physics
- Describe the processes affecting heat loss from a body of water.
- Describe the development of sea ice from first stage of ice crystal formation to an ice sheet.
- Describe the stages of sea ice melting.
- Given a description of winds and currents, estimate the drift of sea ice.
Ice Types
- Recall and define the WMO categories of sea ice.
- Describe the origin and classification of icebergs.
- Define the following terms:
- brash ice, fast ice
- fracture, lead, polynya
- ice edge, marginal ice zone, pack ice
- Describe the different elements of the ice code as used in the WMO egg code seen on ice charts.
- Describe coding for sea ice in a synoptic observation.
Detecting Ice
- Describe how sea ice is detected using environmental satellites
- Interpret a Daily Ice Edge Forecast for the Arctic Ocean or Bering Sea
- Identify the sea ice edge and marginal ice zone on NIC daily product.