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The overall objective of SITHOS is to develop European
monitoring systems for sea ice thickness and related
parameters for climate change detection, support to sea
transport, offshore operations as well as environmental
protection in polar regions. SITHOS will include pre-launch
validation experiments for CRYOSAT, a European Satellite
to be launched in 2004 with global sea ice thickness
observation as a key objective.
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Specific objectives of SITHOS:
Develop and test a portable ice thickness observation
system based on a combination of electromagnetic
induction and laser altimetry (EML – method)
for use on ships, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
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Develop
and test automatic ice stations (AIS) for observation
of ice thickness and related parameters which
can be deployed on ice floes, transmit data in real
time via satellite
and operate for several years.
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Obtain,
analyze and assess upward looking sonar (ULS) data
from autonomous underwater vehicles
(AUV) and from
submarines
Develop techniques to measure ice topography
and thickness by aircraft laser and GPS.
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Investigate
and validate methods to measure ice freeboard and thickness
by use
of spaceborne altimetry as preparation
for use of CRYOSAT data.
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Improve
sea ice modelling capability using data obtained by
the observational
methods,
listed above, and define
the requirements for sea ice thickness
and other ice data from modelling
perspective
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Assess
the different ice thickness observation methods and
make
recommendation for possible
synergetic use of
these techniques in operational
ice monitoring of the polar
seas.
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