2019 KAMERA Test Flights

In May of 2019, the Polar Ecosystems Program (PEP) conducted pilot surveys of a new multispectral imaging system in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. Seventeen flights were conducted between May 10-25 out of Kotzebue and Deadhorse to test the new approach and collect additional imagery of ice-associated seals and polar bears to improve full-scale surveys planned for spring 2020. All communities were provided a 30 mile buffer and flights did not extend beyond the US EEZ. Pilot surveys were conducted with a King Air A90 twin prop aircraft equipped with an open air belly port for imaging, and flown over fast ice and pack ice habitat at a target altitude of 1000 ft and airspeed of 120 kts. Altitudes encountered during this effort were often below target, due to weather and sightability issues. Ice-associated seals in Kotzebue Sound occurred in unusually high densities due to the early melt and breakup. Onboard observers visually scanned for polar bears from the aircraft. When a bear was seen, the plane conducted limited circling to ensure imagery was collected of the bear.

The purpose of these flights was to test a multispectral aerial imaging system (KAMERA) under development. Imagery collected from the test flights is to be used to improve model development for detection and classification of mammals on the sea ice.

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