This project will improve the sea ICE prediction capability through advanced modeling and iterative engagements of local communities and partners in alaska

This Cooperative Agreement award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Cooperative Institute (Inter-Agency Funded Activities) program (CFDA 11.405) will improve sea ice prediction capabilities for Alaska through advanced modeling and iterative community engagement. The $377,905 project, running from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2027, will refine an existing state-of-the-art sea ice prediction model to incorporate higher spatial resolution and tidal impacts. Concurrently, the University of Michigan will work with Alaskan communities to better understand user needs and usability, as well as how sea ice coverage impacts local activities like hunting and transportation. This iterative co-design process aims to develop an improved sea ice prediction tool tailored to the specific needs of Alaskan stakeholders.

The existing prediction tool based on the state-of-art sea ICE model will be further refined to use higher spatial resolution (1.5KM) and incorporate impacts from tides. At the same time, we will work with alaskan communities to build CO-design partnerships, conduct interviews, workshops, and/or surveys to better understand user needs and usability of the tool, better understand how sea ICE coverage impacts alaskan communities that depend on sea ICE for hunting activities and transportation. These engagement activities are repeated every year in parallel with the modeling research, and are meant to be a mechanism to enable the CO-design process of a sea ICE prediction tool for the region.