The Alaska Sea Ice Program (ASIP) is a vital component of the National Weather Service, dedicated to monitoring and forecasting sea ice conditions across Alaska’s waters, including the Beaufort, Chukchi, and Bering Seas, and Cook Inlet. ASIP’s team of analysts provides a range of products, including daily sea ice analyses, sea surface temperature charts, five-day graphical and text forecasts, and monthly outlooks. These tools are essential for marine navigation, public safety, Arctic research, and national defense, as accurate sea ice forecasts play a critical role in supporting security operations in the increasingly strategic Arctic region.
Staffed seven days a week, ASIP utilizes cutting-edge resources such as satellite imagery, in situ observations, and oceanographic data to create detailed analyses of sea ice concentration, thickness, and movement. Their graphical and text forecasts help maritime users understand the evolving ice conditions, while their monthly outlooks provide long-term insights into freeze-up and break-up trends for coastal and offshore regions.
In October and November 2023, ASIP team member Michael Lawson deployed aboard the R/V Sikuliaq for a five-week mission in the Beaufort Sea, marking the program's first embedded deployment. This mission, part of the Arctic Mobile Observing System project funded by the Office of Naval Research, focused on studying sea ice dynamics and thermodynamics in ice-covered Arctic waters. Lawson also participated in a second mission into the Arctic waters of the Beaufort Sea in September, 2024.
During the 2023 and 2024 deployments, Lawson delivered critical decision support to the ship’s crew and science team, including daily briefings, ice analyses, and forecasts. These services tracked conditions such as ice thickness, pressure, ridging, multi-year ice, and open water, guiding safe navigation and supporting research activities such as buoy deployment and vehicle testing. Collaboration with the U.S. National Ice Center enhanced mission success, ensuring comprehensive ice and meteorological support.
The R/V Sikuliaq, operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, is the only U.S. academic research vessel capable of breaking ice up to 2.5 feet thick. This capability, combined with ASIP’s expertise, underscores the program’s critical role in supporting Arctic research and operations in some of the most challenging environments on Earth.
ASIP’s work not only improves the safety and efficiency of maritime operations but also advances understanding of the rapidly changing Arctic environment, reinforcing its importance as a cornerstone of sea ice monitoring and forecasting in Alaska.
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| NWS Alaska Sea Ice Program analyst Michael Lawson on board the R/V Sikuliaq as the ship moves through the ice in the Beaufort Sea. | NWS Alaska Sea Ice Program analyst Michael Lawson provides a briefing on ice and weather conditions on board the R/V Sikuliaq. |
