By: Betsy Turner-Bogren, ARCUS

Map of defined regions in the Arctic Ocean. Image courtesy of the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).k
Map of defined regions in the Arctic Ocean. Image courtesy of the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).

The Sea Ice Prediction Network (SIPN) is in transition as current grant funding comes to a close later this year and proposals are pursued to develop and expand SIPN science efforts.

In March, we co-organized the 4th Polar Prediction Workshop along with the World Climate Research Programme - Polar Climate Predictability Initiative (WCRP-PCPI) and the World Weather Research Programme - Polar Prediction Project (WWRP-PPP). The workshop, held at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany, focused on environmental prediction in the polar regions on subseasonal to interannual timescales. Sea ice prediction was a main focus of the workshop, which produced recommendations for the 2017 Sea Ice Outlook season. Julienne Stroeve, member of the SIPN leadership team, gave a talk on "Preparing for the Sea Ice Outlook Season 2017 and SIPN2." Her presentation is available here.

During the remainder of 2017, our focus will be on core Sea Ice Outlook (SIO) activities during the summer and fall, including a post-season report at the end of the Arctic sea ice melt season. The Sea Ice Outlook provides an open process for those interested in Arctic sea ice to share ideas. The monthly reports contain a variety of perspectives—from advanced numerical models to qualitative perspectives from citizen scientists.

The 2017 SIO will include community contributions to the regular June, July, and August monthly reports that synthesize predictions for the September monthly average extent of Arctic sea ice, as well as Alaskan regional sea ice extent. Informal contributions of fall freeze-up data, sea ice observations, and other relevant information will also be included. New for this year, we are accepting pan-Antarctic sea ice extent of the September monthly mean.

The 2017 season was launched in May with the call for contributions for the June report, which will be released later this month. More information on this year’s Sea Ice Outlook season, as well as access to the 2016 post-season report, is available here.

For more information about SIPN, see the SIPN website, join the SIPN mailing list, or contact Betsy Turner-Bogren, ARCUS, at betsy [at] arcus.org.