New Arctic Ice Fog Study Arrives in Utqiaġvik This November

Researchers will deploy a coordinated set of instruments at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement North Slope of Alaska site near Utqiaġvik for a short but intensive field campaign this November. The campaign is the ice fog component of the international FATIMA program and is scheduled to run from November 15, 2025 to December 7, 2025. It will combine ARM permanent instrumentation with guest instruments from national laboratories and universities to study the small scale processes that produce ice fog and low clouds along the coastal Arctic margin.

Participating organizations listed on the campaign page include Sandia National Laboratories, the University of Notre Dame, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the University of Alaska, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, among others. The campaign page also provides an instrumentation inventory, and names of the lead investigator and coinvestigators. The team will measure ice nucleating aerosols, ice crystal formation, turbulence and microphysics interactions, vertical profiles of microphysical properties, and air sea fluxes that influence coastal ice fog.

Improving fog and low visibility forecasting is a central goal of the work. Better forecasts are directly relevant to public safety in the North Slope Borough, where dense ice fog can affect aviation operations, marine shipping, and surface travel. Validating model parameterizations used in weather and operational models may help emergency services, airlines, shipping firms, and local planners make safer decisions during periods of poor visibility. The measurements will also support broader scientific efforts to understand how coastal Arctic conditions influence fog formation and persistence.

For Utqiaġvik residents and stakeholders, the campaign brings both opportunities and responsibilities. Short term activity will include instrument deployments and research staff working at the ARM site. The data generated may lead to more accurate local forecasts, potentially reducing delays and hazards related to flights, resupply missions, and critical infrastructure maintenance. Over the longer term, validated models can inform regional planning around transportation and emergency response, areas that carry direct public health and safety implications.

The presence of multiple federal and academic partners highlights the value placed on Arctic observations, but it also raises questions about inclusive engagement and equitable benefit for Arctic communities. Local leaders, health providers, and emergency managers have a stake in how data and improved forecasts are translated into services that protect livelihoods and safety. Clear communication about the campaign schedule and findings can help residents and agencies prepare for field activity and anticipate changes in forecasting products.

More detailed information about instruments, objectives, and investigators is available on the DOE ARM campaign page for FATIMA IF. As the campaign approaches, local residents and organizations are encouraged to monitor updates and coordinate with ARM staff and borough officials if they have concerns or needs related to the field work.