Drew Rothrock's Fundamental Contributions to Arctic Science

Abstract

David Andrew (Drew) Rothrock III lived during a period of vigorous scientific research in the Earth Sciences, from the International Geophysical Year to the era of satellites and high‐speed computer modeling. Drew made fundamental contributions to Arctic science, helping to lay the theoretical foundations for modeling the movement and thickness of sea ice, and later championing the acquisition and use of satellite and submarine data to test and improve those models, and to quantify changes in sea‐ice thickness over time. He was a founding member of the Polar Science Center at the University of Washington in Seattle, where he led major research projects, contributed his expertise to agency panels and working groups, and launched the careers of young scientists through his mentorship.