Arctic spring and the onset of sea-ice melt: Early impressions from the ARTofMELT expedition

The spring season in the Arctic Ocean has gained relatively little attention with detailed observations from expeditions, due to difficulties to navigate in the ice at this time of the year. This paper reviews experiences from the ARTofMELT (Atmospheric rivers and the onset of sea-ice melt) expedition in spring of 2023.

ARTofMELT had two objectives: To study processes leading up to the onset of the sea-ice melt and to explore links to so-called atmospheric rivers (ARs). ARs are spatially and temporally distinct inflows of warm and moist air from farther south. To fulfill these goals, we instrumented the Swedish research icebreaker Oden and planned to locate her in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic Ocean north of Svalbard from early May to mid-June. Oden was equipped with advanced meteorological instrumentation including standard meteorology and 6-horly radiosoundings, radar and lidars for cloud and wind measurements, and a surface flux tower with eddy-covariance. An advanced suite of atmospheric chemistry and aerosol observations were also deployed along with water isotope measurements, and also sampled and profiled the upper ocean structure. To identify upcoming ARs, we used ensemble forecasts from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) at lead time up to seven days, to allow time to navigate the icebreaker to optimal positions and establish ice camps. While carrying out most of the observations on board, in-situ observations on the ice provide valuable details on the impact of ARs on the ice. On ice camps we therefore deployed a surface energy budget station and an ROV surveying the ice from below and also flew a tethered balloon HELIKITE system from the aft of the ship. Additionally, we also used the helicopter to deploy scientists on the ice (sampling snow, ice and water) and deploying buoys, and for flying the HELIPOD instrument package.

ARTofMELT left Svalbard on 8 May and returned on 15 June. Starting with quite cold later winter conditions there was a brief warming period around mid-May, with an AR that brought air temperatures above the melting point twice (19 and 20 May). This was interrupted by a major storm, followed by a cooler period. From the end of May the surface started to gain heat, culminating in the onset of the melt at a second AR on 10 June. Both ARs were documented from ice stations.

A major uncertainty was the navigation in the ice during late winter and this also tuned out to be the most difficult part of the deployment. The ice was thick and hard to break, the size of the largest ice floes was much larger than expected and short-term variations of the ice pressure made navigation very difficult. The maximum latitude obtained was ~80.5 °N, hence, we stayed in the Fram Strait ice pack. Also, only two brief ARs were encountered, less than expected. In spite of this we were able to gain a large amount of unique observations, both from the icebreaker when in transit and from two ice camps.