In the winter, Kathleen Cole&rsquo;s job is like a scavenger hunt. But instead of searching for clues to uncovering hidden treasure, she searches for clues to uncovering Cook Inlet ice conditions. Cole is the National Weather Service sea ice program leader for Alaska. Ships rely on her to help them determine if they can safely pass through ice along their route, or if they need to change course. 
For this important task, Cole has remarkably little data to draw upon. 