Alaska Film Archives

Radar Observations of Sea Ice at Barrow, Alaska
Radar Observations of Sea Ice at Barrow, Alaska
In this film, title screens and diagrams explain how observations of sea ice were performed and how data were interpreted. The University of Alaska Sea Ice Radar System was a 3-CM, X-Band ship’s radar used to sense natural reflecting surfaces on the ice. It was mounted on a tower about 12 meters above sea level and typically operated at a scanning range of three nautical miles, or 5.5 kilometers. Data acquired by the radar system were recorded by a camera which photographed the radar display at 3-minute intervals, and the resulting film could then be shown as a time-lapse motion picture showing sea ice movement. The area under observation was the Chukchi Sea coast just north of Barrow. The time lapse radar images include dates during which observations were made. Conclusions and unusual events are noted in title screens. See also AAF-11495 and AAF-11497, which contain images related to this study.
[Time-lapse images of sea ice movement at Barrow 1975 - 1976]
[Time-lapse images of sea ice movement at Barrow 1975 - 1976]
These are time lapse images of sea ice at Barrow, Alaska. See also AAF-11495 and AAF-11496, which contain images and information related to this study. This reel was made up of eight smaller reels of film spliced together onto one reel. Note that four original reels are each followed by duplicate reels. The original boxes are labeled as follows: 1) July 4, 1975 - July 1-4, 1975 - ice came in - feet show effect. 2) July 1-4, 1975 - dup #2 - Barrow ice data. 3) July 4-8, 1975 - Barrow ice data [note that several feet of blank unexposed film was removed from the end of this reel prior to digitizing]. 4) July 4-8, 1975 - Barrow ice data - dup #2 [note that several feet of blank unexposed film was removed from the end of this reel prior to digitizing]. 5) June 24, 1976 - ice moved in [note on film leader had question mark after date as follows: "June 24, 76?"]. 6) June 1976 after 24th June? [note on film leader was as follows: "After June 24, 76 - before Jun 30"]. 7) 1 End June 30, 1976. 8) 1 End June 30, 1976.