ASPeCt is a group of experts specialising in Antarctic sea ice, aiming to improve our knowledge of the sea-ice zone through sustained field work, remote sensing, and numerical modelling.

Founded in 1996, the ASPeCt (Antarctic Sea Ice Processes and Climate) Expert Group made its mission to increase understanding of Antarctic sea ice within the Earth system so as to improve the predictive skill of numerical simulations for future emission scenarios.

Within the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Physical Sciences program, ASPeCt provides the international science framework to direct sea-ice zone research undertaken by national Antarctic programmes, coordinate piggy-bag research, i.e., in partnership with the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP), and co-design and coordinate large international science initiatives, such as the International Polar Year, to achieve maximum scientific and logistic effectiveness.

ASPeCt is co-sponsored by Climate and Cryosphere (CliC), a key initiative of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). Here, ASPeCt will leverage the WCRP's track record in Model Intercomparison Projects (MIPs) to understand the required improvements in the representation of sea-ice processes to reduce model biases. ASPeCt also includes a component of data rescue of valuable historical sea-ice zone information.

ASPeCt Terms of Reference are listed below.

For more information, see the SCAR website.

• Standardization of sea-ice observing protocols, sea-ice core measurements, and sea-ice station sampling.
• Archive data from ship-based observations, sea-ice thickness profiles, sea-ice core analysis and snow measurements, including snow pits.
• Provide a metadata directory pointing to experiment data sets and buoy data.
• Sponsor workshops and conference sessions.
• Coordinate international collaboration on experiments.
• Facilitate data exchanges and joint analyses.
• Collaborate with relevant scientific expert or action groups to jointly develop system-based research solutions.
• Foster interaction and collaboration between scientists, technical experts and engineers to advance scope and skill of sensors, build integrated sensor packages and automate observing and analysis techniques.
• Coordinate exchanges of data and ideas between sea-ice observers and climate modellers with the aim of improving climate models.
• Provide expertise and consultation to SCAR, CliC, and WCRP and broadly on Antarctic sea ice.

ASPeCt leadership structure consists of two Co-Chairs, both reporting to SCAR and CliC. 

Other roles within the steering committee include an Early Career Scientist, and a Communication and Data Executive.

ASPeCt’s Scientific Steering Committee hold workshops every one to two years (approximately) to report on research, present plans and coordinate between national programs. All scientists with an active interest in Antarctic sea ice research are invited to participate in these meetings. Please express interest via the contact form on this page. 

For the ASPeCt Implementation Plan check the ASPeCt Science [https://aspectsouth.org/science] summary.

Prof. Stefanie Arndt
Stefanie is affiliated with the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) and the University of Hamburg in Germany. Stefanie's interest is on Antarctic sea ice with view to understand how the snow cover impacts the sea ice via a range of fluxes and interactions. Her work includes the deployment of snow buoys (automomous drifters) and other equipment to measure exchanges at the sea-ice surface, and how snow and sea ice interact with the broader climate system.

Dr. Petra Heil
Petra is affiliated with the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) and the Australian Antarctic Programs Partnership (AAPP) at the University of Tasmania. Her research focuses on complex systems in the polar regions, particularly Antarctica, and how they connect with the wider Earth system. Petra has conducted extensive fieldwork, including process studies, long-term observatories and is a proponent of networked science as well as effective science to society.
Prof. Marilyn Raphael

Professor Marilyn Raphael

Marilyn is affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she specializes in climate science, atmospheric dynamics, and polar meteorology. Her research focuses on understanding climate variability and change in polar regions, particularly in Antarctica.