15 July 2022
By Karen Romano Young
The question of summer Arctic ice extent is up in the air — not to say it’s unknown.
NASA goes to extra effort to assure the detailed accuracy of its measurements, including a new effort beginning this summer.
Given the 40-plus-year coverage from space provided by the ICESat satellites, including ICESat-2, placed in orbit in 2018, our understanding of the volume of sea ice is exquisite any time of year — but better in fall, winter, and spring.
Past gaps have been filled on foot — and snowmobile, thanks to the efforts of researchers on the ground in Greenland…
…and by supertough lasers provided by NASA IceBridge.
Stay cool — unlike much of the Arctic.