The Complete Annual Record of Sea Ice Volume Export Through Fram Strait as Observed by Satellite from 2010-2022.

• Main Authors: Babb, David Gareth, Kirillov, Sergei, Howell, Stephen E. L., Landy, Jack Christopher, Glissenaar, Isolde, Stroeve, Julienne, Brady, Michael, Ehn, Jens Kristian
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Authorea, Inc. 2023
• Subjects: Arctic; Arctic Ocean; albedo; Fram Strait; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.22541/essoar.170110665.58564319/v1

Fram Strait is the primary pathway for sea ice export from the Arctic Ocean, yet estimates of volume export are constrained by observations of ice thickness and drift. Using a new year-round CryoSat-2 ice thickness product we determine an average annual export of 1,712 ± 452 km^3 from 2011-2022. 15% of the Arctic Oceans sea ice volume is exported annually, while 3.2% of the volume lost during the melt season is exported. Comparing high- and low-resolution ice drift products reveals the latter underestimate export by 30%. Comparing volume export between 82°N and 79°N reveals a high melt rate of 1 cm d-1, reducing export by 53%. September sea ice volume declines by 286 km^3 for every 100 km^3 exported during summer, highlighting how export amplifies the ice-albedo feedback. Our estimates of volume export provide new insight into Fram Straits role as a sea ice sink and freshwater source.