Arctic sea ice thickness variability and change

• Main Authors: von Albedyll, Luisa, Rinke, Annette, Rabe, Benjamin, Wang, Qiang, Haas, Christian
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: unknown
• Published: Alfred Wegener Institut 2021
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctic; Arctic; Climate change; Fram Strait; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/54643/; https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/54643/1/SAB-2021_Luisa_von_Albedyll.pdf; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.4f39625a-7125-4d58-8803-55aae8d28190

Arctic sea ice thickness variability and change and their dependence on the atmospheric and oceanic forcing are at the core of research in Subtopic 2.1, Theme: Ongoing and Future Arctic and Antarctic Climate Change. Our research is particularly focused on a better process understanding and representation in models, and observations during MOSAiC play a strong role. The poster gives examples of such process studies focused on Arctic sea ice thickness variability and change. We outline observations of the long-term and regional variability and change of sea ice thickness using satellite remote sensing, airborne surveying, and ice mass balance buoys. Thermodynamic growth and its interaction with the atmosphere over leads and level ice serves as an example for our joint research interests. The poster also gives examples of causes of sea ice thinning, like increased ocean heat flux to the ice due to Atlantification, and consequences, e.g., for reduced sea ice volume transport through Fram Strait.