First Data from MAiSIE, a Multi-sensor, Airborne Sea Ice Explorer

thickness mapping is limited to 1D interpretation due to common procedures and systems that are mainly sensitive to layered structures. We present a new generation Multi-sensor, Airborne Sea Ice Explorer (MAiSIE) to overcome these limitations. As the actual sea ice structure is 3D and in parts heterogeneous, errors up to 50% are observed due to the common 1D approximation. With MAiSIE we present a new EM concept based on one multi frequency transmitter loop and a three component receiver coil triplet, with active digital bucking (no bucking coil). The small weight frees additional payload to include a line scanner (lidar) and high accuracy INS/dGPS. The 3D surface topography from the scanner with the EM data at from 500 Hz to 8 kHz, in x, y, and z direction, increases the accuracy of HEM derived pressure ridge geometry significantly. Initial test flight results over open water show the proof-of-concept with acceptable sensor drift and receiver sensitivity. The 20 ppm noise level @ 4.1 kHz is sufficient to map level ice thickness with 10 cm precision for sensor altitudes below 13 m.