Ice Check From Space: SENTINEL-2

by | Feb 12, 2022 | 2021-2022, Home Page

Lake Mendota before the snow, on January 13, 2022

SENTINEL-2 SATELLITE

At-home ice checking often begins with a look at MODIS satellite data. “With its sweeping 2,330-km-wide viewing swath, MODIS sees every point on our world every 1-2 days…”

SENTINEL-2 is another satellite that surveys the earth every five days at the equator and every 2-3 days at middle latitudes. SENTINEL-2 is “equipped with an opto-electronic multispectral sensor for surveying with a sentinel-2 resolution of 10 to 60 m in the visible, near infrared (VNIR), and short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectral zones, including 13 spectral channels, which ensures the capture…” 

SENTINEL-2 takes a few more steps than looking at MODIS but the views are well worth the effort. 

Register for an account, and you can download the views. 

  1. Make sure you are looking at SENTINEL-2
  2. Search 
  3. Choose the date on the calendar.
  4. Choose false color for the best ice view.

4LIYC Racing Called on for Jan 8-9, 2022

by | Jan 7, 2022 | Home Page

Lake Monona January 7, 2022

Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club racing is called ON for January 7-8, 2022.
Ice checkers found 4-6″ of mostly smooth ice with spotty snow patches. The open spots from yesterday (Thursday, Jan 6) were frozen over but will be marked. Remember, the entire lake is never safe. Review safety here.
Launch is the Tonyawatha landing in Monona. Do not drive on the ice.
First race starts at 10 AM on Saturday, January 8. 2022.

Lakemonona Jan 7 3
Lakemonona Jan 7 1

4LIYC Ice Check for Friday, January 7, 2022

by | Jan 6, 2022 | 2021-2022, Home Page

Lake Monona from the south shore on Wednesday, January 6, 2022.

4LIYC Commodore Daniel Hearn and Doug Kolner scouted Lake Monona today for the DN Western Region Championship. Though they didn’t find regatta quality ice and the regatta was postponed, Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club sailing for Saturday and Sunday is a distinct possibility.

Daniel reported, “Plenty of ice thickness onshore with 2-3″ of black ice in the middle with an open hole dead center in the middle of the lake. There may be enough space on the east end for club sailing. There was very little snow. The hole could firm up by the weekend.”

Please meet at the Tonyawatha Landing at noon on Friday, January 6, 2022, for a Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club ice check. We will post our decision about club racing by 5 PM on Friday.

The State of Monona

by | Jan 4, 2022 | 2020-2021, Home Page

Lake Monona, January 4, 2022

Four Lakes ice sailors have been busy sharing pictures, talking, and thinking Lake Monona ice which has come in with a beautiful freeze. This morning, there are a few goose holes, but most of the lake is glass. It needs a few days to build thickness and then the club can check conditions. Ice cam checkers will want to to keep their browser on Mendota Today for a live look at Lake Mendota.