ARCTIC OCEAN — NASA scientists conducted a field campaign in the Canadian wilderness in April 2026, including flights over the Arctic Ocean, to prepare for the use of a new spacecraft sensor. This research effort aimed to test instruments and validate satellite data for measuring sea ice thickness. The sensor, a microwave radiometer, is currently undergoing testing at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and is scheduled for launch in 2027.

For two weeks in April 2026, researchers flew above the Arctic Ocean in a World War II-era aircraft that maintained an altitude of 1,500 feet (457 meters). The aircraft was equipped with sensors designed to measure the thickness of both sea ice and snow, and it carried a stand-in instrument for the microwave radiometer being tested at JPL.

The research flights were coordinated to coincide with the passage of satellites overhead, allowing airborne and satellite instruments to gather data on the same features. Measuring sea ice thickness involves collecting data on how high the ice extends above the water, the depth of snow on the ice, and microwave emissions from the surface.

The extent and thickness of Arctic sea ice have changed in recent decades. Sahra Kacimi, a JPL scientist who served as the science lead for the field campaign, stated, "Ongoing warming in the Arctic could potentially impact public safety and economic interests."

Combining data from airborne and satellite sources aims to improve the accuracy of sea ice measurements and enhance understanding of evolving climate conditions in the Arctic. Improved measurements of changes in Arctic sea ice support navigation, weather research, and ocean research, and inform future satellite observations.