Scientists have created an interactive map of the ice cover off the coast of Antarctica to facilitate navigation and research. In this respect informs Australian Antarctic Program.
The instrument developed by Antarctic explorer Petra Hale and her colleagues was named Nilas. It combines real-time data with information from historical archives. The map takes into account the location of sea ice, chlorophyll data (an indicator of phytoplankton production), and sea surface temperature. We use ice data from 1980 and chlorophyll data from 1998.
The authors believe that historical ice and ocean data and its ability to superimpose historical or estimated ship trajectories, animal tracks or instrument performance on collected data make it a powerful planning, analysis and research tool. The scientists planned a marine research expedition using the map. In particular, the best places for the deployment of devices designed to monitor ice breaking processes at the border between land and sea were identified. In addition, the tool made it possible to decide on the best time of year to visit, when the ship was in the least danger.
Finally, the model has the potential to reveal hidden relationships in nature. Thus, phytoplankton can emit sulfate aerosols into the air, for example, affecting the properties of the atmosphere. Thus, having all these data in a single interface facilitates interdisciplinary research.
Formerly in a New York park caught frozen crocodile