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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Ice thickness and wave observations at eleven locations in Lake Erie in the Great Lakes region from 2010-10-27 to 2013-06-15 (NCEI Accession 0303909)

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This dataset contains time-series measurements of ice thicknesses and waves at eleven locations in central Lake Erie during the winters seasons of 2010-2011, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. The ice measurements were collected using Shallow Water Ice Profiling Sonar (SWIPS) profilers at 1 Hz. The ice was observed over approximately 80 days beginning in late December and continuing through mid-March. Wave heights, periods, and directions were estimated on burst intervals using Acoustic Wave and Current Profiler (AWAC) observations. This ice thickness and wave observations data are derived measurements from the full set of observations collected by the instrumentation. For detailed information about the observations see Hawley et al. (2018). The file names are in the format “noaa_glerl_erie_[ice or wave]_[start year]_[end year]_[station].nc”, for example “noaa_glerl_erie_wave_2011_2012_le10.nc”. The data provided here are in netCDF format.
  • Cite as: Hawley, Nathan (2025). Ice thickness and wave observations at eleven locations in Lake Erie in the Great Lakes region from 2010-10-27 to 2013-06-15 (NCEI Accession 0303909). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/6zbn-m765. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:0303909
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Distribution Formats
  • NetCDF (Version: 4)
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Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
+1-301-713-3277
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2010-10-27 to 2013-06-15
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -82.3
East: -81.4
South: 41.63
North: 42.14
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • ASL. 2011. IPS Processing Toolbox User's Guide, ASL Environmental Sciences, Sidney, British Columbia, Canada.
  • Hawley, N., Beletsky, D., & Wang, J. (2018). Ice thickness measurements in Lake Erie during the winter of 2010–2011. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 44(3), 388–397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2018.04.004
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2025-05-01
  • creation: 2025-04-30
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Purpose These data were collected to measure ice thickness and wave parameters during the winter in central Lake Erie.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Hawley, Nathan (2025). Ice thickness and wave observations at eleven locations in Lake Erie in the Great Lakes region from 2010-10-27 to 2013-06-15 (NCEI Accession 0303909). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/6zbn-m765. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Contributors
Resource Providers
Points of Contact
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • Funding Agency: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL)
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords Provider Keywords
  • Ice thickness
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Platform keywords NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Provider Instruments
  • ASL SWIPS ice profiler
  • Nortek AWAC current profiler
  • Shallow Water Ice Profiling Sonar (SWIPS)
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Keywords Send2NCEI Submission Package ID
  • Y1H3C8
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Hawley, Nathan (2025). Ice thickness and wave observations at eleven locations in Lake Erie in the Great Lakes region from 2010-10-27 to 2013-06-15 (NCEI Accession 0303909). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/6zbn-m765. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2025-05-01T16:32:55Z - NCEI Accession 0303909 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Parameter or Variable: Ice thickness (measured); Units: meter; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Shallow Water Ice Profiling Sonar (SWIPS); Sampling and Analyzing Method: The ice measurements were collected using Shallow Water Ice Profiling Sonar (SWIPS) profilers at 1 Hz.; Data Quality Method: Expert review.
  • Parameter or Variable: WAVE HEIGHT - SIGNIFICANT (measured); Units: meter; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: ASL SWIPS ice profiler; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Continuous measurements at 1 Hz Ice thickness is estimated by ASL software (see reference) and averaged over 1 hour intervals All parameters are computed over burst periods.; Data Quality Method: Description of processing in the ASL reference Negative thickness estimates are removed in averaging, along with estimates with high draft error values (thickness<2xdraft error).
  • Parameter or Variable: WAVE PERIOD - DOMINANT (measured); Units: seconds; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Nortek AWAC current profiler; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Burst of 1024 observations at 1 Hz every hour Parameters estimated by instrument software All parameters are computed over burst periods; Data Quality Method: Measurements checked internally by software
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • Acoustic Wave and Current Profiler (AWAC)
  • Shallow Water Ice Profiler Sonar (SWIPS)
Platform
  • moorings
Last Modified: 2026-08-26T19:03:38Z
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