NASA | IceBridge 2011: Eight Down, One to Go

The video discusses Operation Icebridge, highlighting its unique aircraft instruments for measuring ice thickness, which provide detailed data not possible with satellites. The operation faced challenges due to a short time window and reliance on good weather. A significant mission involved collaboration with the Cryosat satellite, linking airborne, satellite, and ground data. This collaboration required precise coordination due to the fast-moving ice, resulting in a valuable dataset for understanding sea ice dynamics.

What is a unique capability of the Icebridge aircraft compared to satellites?

• Tracking animal movements

• Providing global coverage

• Measuring ice thickness in detail

• Predicting weather patterns

Why was there pressure to complete many flights in a short time during Operation Icebridge?

• Limited funding

• Short weather windows

• Aircraft maintenance issues

• Pilot availability

How many kilometers of data were collected over the Arctic Ocean during the missions?

• 10,000 kilometers

• 20,000 kilometers

• 30,000 kilometers

• 40,000 kilometers

What was a significant challenge in linking airborne data to ground measurements?

• Insufficient funding

• Lack of technology

• Fast-moving ice

• Communication barriers

What makes the data set collected during the simultaneous mission unique?

• It was collected over Antarctica

• It was collected in summer

• It combines satellite, airborne, and ground data

• It was the first mission of its kind