Fieldwork
WP6: Data Collection and Fieldwork
We regularly work in the field. In addition to studying ocean, ice, snow surfaces and oil spills from afar, we compare satellite remote sensing data with real-world observations.
We carefully design field campaigns in connection with satellite overflights, helicopter and drone measurements, and perform manual ground measurements for calibrating and validating our satellite remote sensing products.



Arctic sea ice is highly dynamic with its physical properties and thus its remote sensing appearance changing rapidly. Acquiring sufficient ground truth data for calibration and validation of satellite remote sensing products is a major limiting factor to the development of Earth observation techniques.
CIRFA researchers join dedicated field campaigns to manually collect ground measurements. The purpose is to combine accurate in-situ, drone, helicopter and aircraft observations with and satellite data, and improve validation shortcomings with new and refined methods.
We collaborate with projects partners that run long-term monitoring programs and conduct field campaigns. In 2015, the Norwegian Polar Institute froze its research vessel Lance in Arctic sea ice north of Svalbard. This was an excellent opportunity to design and collect data sets specifically for remote sensing ground truth calibration and validation purposes. In addition, coastal and fjord-based long-term monitoring data from land stations are used to support the remote sensing research.
Research tasks
Plan and conduct field campaigns on Arctic sea ice, open water, and oil spills to combine direct measurements of surface properties with airborne and satellite-based data.
Improve validation shortcomings by seeking and implementing new and refined measurement concepts and methods using new technologies and platforms.
Provide quality ground-truth data from archives and new campaigns for assessing the calibration and validation of remote sensing products.
CIRFA cruise 2022
An expedition to the western Fram Strait and eastern Greenland that was organised by CIRFA in April and May 2022. To our knowledge, this was Norway`s first ship-based research expedition with focus on remote sensing and ground validation. During this expedition, 33 scientists spend 3 weeks on board RV Kronprins Haakon and collected a unique dataset. Find the cruise report here.

Other field campaigns
Further examples are the N-ICE2015 experiment where the research vessel RV Lance of the Norwegian Polar Institute was frozen into drifting ice in the Arctic Ocean north of Svalbard for half a year, annual campaigns of the Norwegian Polar Institute, NOFO’s (Norsk Oljevernforening For Operatørselskap / The Norwegian Clean Seas Association for Operating Companies), data from the international one-year long Arctic MOSAiC expedition (2019-2020) in the central Arctic Ocean, and cruises with RV Kronprins Haakon within the Norwegian Nansen Legacy project.
Team members
Sea ice and climate research with focus on the Arctic (Fram Strait, Svalbard, Barents Sea)
Using satellite images to study Arctic sea ice and oil spills