Sea Ice Elevation Measurements Using 3-D Laser Scanner

Abstract

This study aims to introduce a sea ice elevation dataset estimated by using a 3-D laser scanner during the ice camp of the 2022 Arctic summer field survey. The equipment used is FARO’s Laser scanner FOCUS 3D X 130 HDR. The observed sea ice floe is located in the Arctic Ocean (76°13' N, 174°35') and is a multi-year ice with several melt ponds and ice ridges. We scanned eight sections separately, considering the equipment’s maximum horizontal scan range and the ice surface’s topographic features. The raw data were co-registered based on the positions of reference spheres. The result indicated a significant level of accuracy with a target-based vertical mean error of 4.8 mm. The laser scanner data were merged into point clouds ranging from 160×210 m. As a result, sea ice elevation data were generated in 0 to 2.8 m based on the minimum vertical point in the observation range. Sea ice elevation data is an essential variable in estimating the various properties of sea ice, such as ice thickness and roughness. In addition, using climatic variables such as air temperature and energy budget observed simultaneously can help to understand the physical interaction between the sea ice surface and the atmosphere on a local scale.