OS1.1 | Changes in the Arctic Ocean, sea ice and subarctic seas systems: Observations, Models and Perspectives
EDI
Changes in the Arctic Ocean, sea ice and subarctic seas systems: Observations, Models and Perspectives
Co-organized by CL3.1/CR3, co-sponsored by NORP and CliC
Convener: Céline Heuzé | Co-conveners: Morven MuilwijkECSECS, Yufang Ye, Stefanie RyndersECSECS, Vasco MüllerECSECS
Orals
| Fri, 19 Apr, 10:45–12:30 (CEST)
 
Room 1.61/62, Fri, 19 Apr, 14:00–15:45 (CEST), 16:15–18:00 (CEST)
 
Room E2
Posters on site
| Attendance Thu, 18 Apr, 10:45–12:30 (CEST) | Display Thu, 18 Apr, 08:30–12:30
 
Hall X4
Posters virtual
| Attendance Thu, 18 Apr, 14:00–15:45 (CEST) | Display Thu, 18 Apr, 08:30–18:00
 
vHall X4
Orals |
Fri, 10:45
Posters on site |
Thu, 10:45
Posters virtual
Thu, 14:00
The persistent rapid decline of the Arctic sea ice in the last decades is a dramatic indicator of climate change. The Arctic sea ice cover is now thinner, weaker and drifts faster. Extreme air temperatures over land and ocean are more common, contributing to accelerated ice sheet melting and summer sea ice loss in the Kara and Laptev Seas. On land, the permafrost is dramatically thawing, glaciers are disappearing, and forest fires are raging. The ocean is also changing: the volume of freshwater stored in the Arctic has increased as have the inputs of coastal runoff from Siberia and Greenland and the exchanges with the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. As the global surface temperature rises, the Arctic Ocean is speculated to become seasonally ice-free by the mid 21st century, which prompts us to revisit our perceptions of the Arctic system as a whole. What could the Arctic Ocean look like in the future? How are the present changes in the Arctic going to affect and be affected by the lower latitudes? What aspects of the changing Arctic should observational, remote sensing and modelling programmes address in priority?
In this session, we invite contributions from a variety of studies on the recent past, present and future Arctic. We encourage submissions examining interactions between ocean, atmosphere and sea ice; on emerging mechanisms and feedbacks in the Arctic; and on how the Arctic influences the global ocean. Submissions taking a cross-disciplinary, system approach and focussing on emerging cryospheric, oceanic and biogeochemical processes and their linkages with land are particularly welcome.
We aim to promote discussions on future plans for Arctic Ocean modelling and measurement strategies, including on constraining models with observations, and encourage submissions on CMIP , as well as on recent observational programs, such as the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC), which cosponsors this session.

Orals: Fri, 19 Apr | Room 1.61/62

Chairpersons: Céline Heuzé, Yufang Ye
10:45–10:50
5-minute convener introduction
10:50–11:20
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EGU24-13067
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solicited
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Highlight
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On-site presentation
Intra- and interannual variability in the Atlantic Water inflow region north of Svalbard: sea ice, hydrography, nutrients and the potential for primary production 
Angelika Renner, Arild Sundfjord, Marit Reigstad, Allison Bailey, Øyvind Lundesgaard, Randi Ingvaldsen, Melissa Chierici, Elizabeth Jones, and Agnieszka Beszczynska-Möller

Atlantic Water (AW) is the major source of heat and nutrients to the Arctic Ocean. Changing AW inflow promotes sea ice decline and borealisation of marine ecosystems and affects primary production in the Eurasian Arctic. North of Svalbard, the AW inflow dominates oceanographic conditions along the shelf break and hence the distribution of heat and nutrients in the region. However, interaction with sea ice and Polar Surface Water determines nutrient supply to the euphotic layer. Using a combination of multidisciplinary approaches such as ship-based measurements and sampling, moored sensors, remote sensing and numerical modelling, we have been monitoring and studying the AW boundary current north of Svalbard since 2012. In this presentation, I will show some of our findings with particular focus on repeated measurements from a transect across the AW inflow at 31°E, 81.5°N. Large interannual variability in hydrography, nutrients and chl a indicates varying levels of nutrient drawdown by primary producers over summer. Sea ice conditions impact surface stratification, light availability, and wind-driven mixing, with a strong potential for steering chl a concentration over the productive season. In early winter, nutrient re-supply through vertical mixing varied in efficiency, again related to sea ice conditions. The autumn re-supply elevated nutrient concentrations sufficiently for primary production but likely happened too late as high-latitude light levels limited potential autumn blooms. Multidisciplinary observations are key to gain insight into the interplay between physical, chemical, and biological drivers and to understand ongoing and future changes. They are particularly important in regions like north of Svalbard that can indicate what we can expect in the central Arctic Ocean in the future.

How to cite: Renner, A., Sundfjord, A., Reigstad, M., Bailey, A., Lundesgaard, Ø., Ingvaldsen, R., Chierici, M., Jones, E., and Beszczynska-Möller, A.: Intra- and interannual variability in the Atlantic Water inflow region north of Svalbard: sea ice, hydrography, nutrients and the potential for primary production, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-13067, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-13067, 2024.

11:20–11:30
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EGU24-1673
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Arctic wetting: Performances of CMIP6 models and projections of precipitation changes 
Ziyi Cai and Qinglong You

The Arctic region is experiencing a notable increase in precipitation, known as Arctic wetting, amidst the backdrop of Arctic warming. This phenomenon has implications for the Arctic hydrological cycle and numerous socio-ecological systems. However, the ability of climate models to accurately simulate changes in Arctic wetting has not been thoroughly assessed. In this study, we analyze total precipitation in the Arctic using station data, multiple reanalyses, and 35 models participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). By employing the moisture budget equation and an evaluation method for model performance with ERA5 reanalysis as a reference, we evaluated the models’ capability to reproduce past Arctic wetting patterns. Our findings indicate that most reanalyses and models are able to replicate Arctic wetting. However, the CMIP6 models generally exhibit an overestimation of Arctic wetting during the warm season and an underestimation during the cold season from 1979 to 2014 when compared to the ERA5 reanalysis. Further investigation reveals that the overestimation of wetting during the warm season is largest over the Arctic Ocean’s northern part, specifically the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, and is associated with an overestimation of atmospheric moisture transport. Conversely, the models significantly underestimate wetting over the Barents-Kara Sea during the cold season, which can be attributed to an underestimation of evaporation resulting from the models’ inadequate representation of sea ice reduction in that region. The models with the best performance in simulating historical Arctic wetting indicate a projected intensification of Arctic wetting, and optimal models significantly reduce uncertainties in future projections compared to the original models, particularly in the cold season and oceanic regions. Our study highlights significant biases in the CMIP6 models’ simulation of Arctic precipitation, and improving the model’s ability to simulate historical Arctic precipitation could reduce uncertainties in future projections.

How to cite: Cai, Z. and You, Q.: Arctic wetting: Performances of CMIP6 models and projections of precipitation changes, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-1673, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-1673, 2024.

11:30–11:40
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EGU24-1892
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Observations of deep near-inertial internal waves in the Eurasian Basin. 
Joel Bracamontes Ramírez and Maren Walter

The Arctic Ocean has a less energetic internal wave climate than other oceans, mainly due to the thick sea ice cover which inhibits wind interaction with the surface. With the continued decrease in summer sea ice extent and the increase in seasonal ice-free areas, wind-driven internal waves, especially in the near-inertial range, are becoming more energetic. Coupled with the fact that most of the Arctic Ocean lies north of the critical latitude for semi-diurnal tides, the shift in ice dynamics implies an increase in the importance of near-inertial waves (NIW) for the internal wave climate. In particular, increased NIW amplitude and kinetic energy in the Canadian Basin and enhanced wind-driven vertical heat fluxes and dissipation rates in the Eurasian Basin have already been observed in the upper column. In the deep ocean beyond the critical latitude, NIWs are expected to drive mixing in the interior, but it is unclear to what extent. Here, we present innovative and unprecedented deep current observations from a mooring in the Gakkel Ridge in the Eurasian Basin at 82.53°N. The presence of barotropic diurnal and semi-diurnal tides and semi-diurnal harmonics enriches the complex interplay of internal waves. By comparing the observed downward and upward NIW kinetic energy with wind speed, sea ice properties and numerical simulations, we discuss the likely surface origin of the NIW. In particular, there is a lagged correlation of <26 days between ice drift speed and downward NIW energy, and of ~15 days between wind factor and downward NIW energy. In addition, the buoyancy frequency is weaker than the local Coriolis frequency, effectively limiting NIW propagation. Evidence for wave reflection is found and also discussed, with a focus on the implications for NIW coming from the surface.

How to cite: Bracamontes Ramírez, J. and Walter, M.: Observations of deep near-inertial internal waves in the Eurasian Basin., EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-1892, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-1892, 2024.

11:40–11:45
Short break / delay catch up
11:45–11:55
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EGU24-3635
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On-site presentation
Drivers of interannual salinity variability in the Arctic Ocean 
Antoine Hochet, Camille Lique, Florian Sévellec, and William Llovel

Accurate projections and attributions of Arctic ocean changes in climate models require a good understanding of the mechanisms underlying interannual salinity variability in the region. Although some mechanisms have been extensively studied in idealized settings, in particular for the dynamics of the Beaufort Gyre (BG), their applicability to the more complex system remains unclear. This study introduces a new diagnostic based on the salinity variance budget to robustly assess the mechanisms of salinity variations. The diagnostic is then applied to the Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean state estimate. 
The results indicate that the advection of salinity anomalies in the direction of the mean salinity gradient, produced by velocity anomalies is the primary source of interannual salinity variability. These velocities are primarily caused by fluctuating winds via Ekman transports.
Fluctuating surface freshwater fluxes from the atmosphere and sea ice are the second most important source of variability and cannot be neglected. The two sinks of interannual salinity variance are associated with the erosion of large-scale  mean circulation gradients by eddies and to a lesser extent to the diffusive terms. Over continental shelves, particularly over the East Siberian Shelf (ESS), ocean surface freshwater fluxes and diffusion play a more important role than in the deep basins.
We also report a strong intensification of all sources and sinks of interannual salinity variability in the BG and an opposite weakening in the ESS in the second decade of the analysis (2004-2014) with respect to the first (1993-2003). 

How to cite: Hochet, A., Lique, C., Sévellec, F., and Llovel, W.: Drivers of interannual salinity variability in the Arctic Ocean, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-3635, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-3635, 2024.

11:55–12:05
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EGU24-4291
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Arctic sea ice drift fields extraction based on feature tracking to MODIS imagery 
Yan Fang, Xue Wang, Gang Li, Zhuoqi Chen, Fengming Hui, and Xiao Cheng

Moderate-resolution optical imagery holds great potential in deriving Arctic sea ice drift fields because of its higher resolution than microwave radiometers and scatterometers, as well as its larger swath widths than most other optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. However, the application of such imagery is hindered by cloud influences and a lack of texture. In this study, we propose a method of deriving Arctic sea ice drift fields based on applying feature tracking to Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) imagery. To enhance the quality of the feature tracking step, a bundle of digital image processing techniques is first introduced, including histogram equalization which is based on the Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) of the sea ice area, and Laplacian filtering which enhances image texture. Various MODIS bands and A-KAZE parameter settings are subsequently compared to balance the quality of sea ice drifting fields and calculation efficiency. Three pairs of MODIS images observed in different zones of the Arctic Ocean are selected to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. International Arctic Buoy Programme (IABP) buoy data are employed for validating the derived drift vectors with MODIS imagery. The results show that our proposed method effectively increases the number of vectors and their coverage rates of the sea ice drift fields extracted with MODIS images. The coverage rates of sea ice drift fields in three regions increase from 4.8%, 2.3%, and 2.5% to 56.5%, 23.5%, and 53.0% compared to using the A-KAZE algorithm directly, respectively. The MAEs of the derived sea ice motion vectors are 707 m/d in speed and 6.4° in direction, superior to the sea ice drift products based on the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) imagery. The proposed method enables MODIS and other medium-resolution optical data to be utilized in deriving Arctic sea ice drift fields, which is of great significance to the long-term and large-scale Arctic environment, climate, and oceanography research in the future. 

How to cite: Fang, Y., Wang, X., Li, G., Chen, Z., Hui, F., and Cheng, X.: Arctic sea ice drift fields extraction based on feature tracking to MODIS imagery, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-4291, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-4291, 2024.

12:05–12:15
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EGU24-9183
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ECS
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Highlight
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On-site presentation
Thin Ice, Large Impact: Temporal and spatial trends of Arctic thermodynamic and dynamic sea ice thickness change 
Luisa von Albedyll and Robert Ricker

The Arctic Ocean's transition from perennial sea ice to more ice-free summers has halved sea ice thickness in the last six decades, significantly impacting the Arctic climate and ecosystem. Recent trends show a slowing in ice thickness and volume decline, prompting a need to investigate the underlying seasonal and long-term feedback mechanisms of sea ice thickness change. To do so, we use a Lagrangian drift-aware sea ice thickness product (DA-SIT), combined with extensive data on thermodynamic growth conditions and sea ice deformation, to quantify thermodynamic and dynamic thickness change in selected Arctic regions. A key focus is the Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition, which provided regional-scale analysis of seasonal sea ice thickness change using airborne ice thickness measurements, sea ice deformation, and in-situ snow and thermodynamic growth data. Our study extends these findings to larger temporal and spatial scales, evaluating their pan-Arctic applicability using long-term satellite datasets. We compare the MOSAiC trajectory with different dynamic regimes and ask how representative the conditions were for the “old” and the “new” Arctic. This analysis is key to understanding future sea ice thickness change, which is of great relevance for many climate and ecosystem processes.

How to cite: von Albedyll, L. and Ricker, R.: Thin Ice, Large Impact: Temporal and spatial trends of Arctic thermodynamic and dynamic sea ice thickness change, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-9183, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-9183, 2024.

12:15–12:30
Discussion
Lunch break

Orals: Fri, 19 Apr | Room E2

Chairpersons: Stefanie Rynders, Yuri Fukai
14:00–14:05
5-minute convener introduction
14:05–14:35
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EGU24-11917
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solicited
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Highlight
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On-site presentation
Atlantic Water warming increases melt below Northeast Greenland's last floating ice tongue 
Claudia Wekerle, Rebecca McPherson, Wilken-Jon von Appen, Qiang Wang, Ralph Timmermann, Patrick Scholz, Sergey Danilov, and Torsten Kanzow

Rising sea level poses a significant challenge and threat to our societies, given that coastal regions are densely populated. The Greenland ice sheet has been a major contributor to global sea level rise in the last decades, particularly its marine-terminating glaciers and their extensions into the ocean. The 79 North Glacier (79NG) features Greenland's largest floating ice tongue, stretching over 80 km in length in a 20 km wide fjord. The 79NG and its neighboring glacier, the Zachariæ Isstrøm, drain the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream which covers 12% of the Greenland Ice Sheet area. Its complete melt would lead to a 1.1-m global sea level rise. Though the extent of the 79NG has not changed significantly in recent years, observations have indicated a major thinning of its ice tongue from below.  Both ocean warming and an increase in subglacial discharge from the ice sheet induced by atmospheric warming could increase the basal melt; however, available observations alone cannot tell which of these is the main driver.

In this study, we present a setup of the Finite-volumE Sea ice-Ocean Model (FESOM2.1) which explicitly resolves the ocean circulation in the cavity of the 79NG with 700 m resolution. With this novel methodology, we seamlessly connect the global and regional ocean circulation to the circulation in the cavity. Our simulation with realistic bathymetry and ice shelf geometry covers the period 1970-2021, allowing us to disentangle the drivers of the upward trend and interannual variability of basal melt. We find that ocean warming in the subsurface Atlantic Intermediate Water layer that enters the cavity below the 79NG has played a dominant role in the basal melt rate over the past 50 years. The temperature variability can be traced back across the continental shelf of Northeast Greenland to the eastern Fram Strait with a lag of 3 years, implying a predictability of the basal melt of the 79NG. In contrast, subglacial discharge has a relatively small contribution to the interannual variation of the basal melt.

How to cite: Wekerle, C., McPherson, R., von Appen, W.-J., Wang, Q., Timmermann, R., Scholz, P., Danilov, S., and Kanzow, T.: Atlantic Water warming increases melt below Northeast Greenland's last floating ice tongue, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-11917, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-11917, 2024.

14:35–14:45
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EGU24-6019
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Variability in the Arctic Ocean currents during 1990-2100 
Xiaoyan Wei, Chris Wilson, Sheldon Bacon, and Benjamin Barton

The Arctic Ocean is changing rapidly due to climate change, with significant impacts on subpolar ocean dynamics and mid-latitude regional weather. By utilizing a global, 1/12 degree, ocean sea-ice model (NEMO-SI3), which is forced at its surface by an Earth System Model, UKESM1.1, and simulates from 1981 to 2100 under scenario SSP3-7.0, we will demonstrate significant differences in the spatial structure and energy spectrum of Arctic Ocean currents among the past, the present, and the future. We will then explore the implications of changes in Arctic Ocean currents on mass transport pathways within the Arctic and transport across its boundaries. Subsequently, our study will identify the dominant physical drivers of these changes, such as sea ice melting, freshwater discharge, wind stresses, surface heat fluxes, and tides.

How to cite: Wei, X., Wilson, C., Bacon, S., and Barton, B.: Variability in the Arctic Ocean currents during 1990-2100, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-6019, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-6019, 2024.

14:45–14:55
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EGU24-5865
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On-site presentation
Rapid change in the Arctic – North Atlantic climate: using a dynamical systems framework to explore local stability, observability and teleconnections
(withdrawn)
Chris Wilson, Marilena Oltmanns, Sheldon Bacon, Xiaoyan Wei, and Igor Shevchenko
14:55–15:00
Short break / delay catch up
15:00–15:10
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EGU24-16772
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On-site presentation
Progressing ocean acidification in the Barents Sea gateway 
(withdrawn)
Melissa Chierici, Agneta Fransson, Ylva Ericson, Elizabeth Jones, and Helene Hodal Lødemel
15:10–15:20
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EGU24-12163
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Atlantification at the gateway of the Arctic Ocean over the last thousand years 
Francesco De Rovere, Angelo Rubino, and Davide Zanchettin

Atlantification is a major process driving rapid changes in the Arctic Ocean, e.g., sea-ice loss, warming and
salinification of the near-surface, enhanced mixing and changes in the ecosystem structure. The recent
scientific literature highlights the importance of the transport of Atlantic water as a cause of Atlantification,
but fundamental climatic processes driving this phenomenon are far from being fully understood.
Moreover, most studies focused on the analysis of recent observational data covering the last decades,
while recent studies showed that Atlantification had started in the 19th century.


In this contribution, we illustrate scope and progress of the Italian funded project “ATTRACTION: Atlantification dRiven by polAr-subpolar ConnecTIONs in a changing climate”. The project aims to provide a historical perspective on Atlantification by integrating observational evidence over the last decades, paleo-reconstructions and numerical paleoclimate simulations covering the past several centuries. We assess the capability of available tools to robustly describe coupled dynamics at the gateway of the Arctic Ocean (Fram Strait and Barents Sea), and their variations over multi-centennial periods. Furthermore, we provide a solid past reference for attribution of the ongoing Atlantification and discuss how paleoclimate simulations could support the identification of key locations for proxy-based reconstruction of the Atlantification. Toward a mechanistic understanding of Atlantification-like events over the last millennium, our assessment focus on the role of heat and salt redistribution by sub-polar dynamics by its major controls, including the Atlantic Multidecadal Overturning Circulation, the Sub-Polar Gyre and the Greenland Sea Gyre.

How to cite: De Rovere, F., Rubino, A., and Zanchettin, D.: Atlantification at the gateway of the Arctic Ocean over the last thousand years, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-12163, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-12163, 2024.

15:20–15:30
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EGU24-8264
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Highlight
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On-site presentation
Still Arctic? - The changing Barents Sea 
Sebastian Gerland, Randi B. Ingvaldsen, Marit Reigstad, Arild Sundfjord, Bjarte Bogstad, Melissa Chierici, Tor Eldevik, Haakon Hop, Paul E. Renaud, Lars H. Smedsrud, Leif Christian Stige, and Marius Årthun

The Barents Sea is one of the Polar regions where current climate and ecosystem change is most pronounced. In a recent review (DOI: 10.1525/elementa.2022.00088) as a part of the cross-disciplinary Norwegian research project “The Nansen Legacy”, the current state of knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological systems in the Barents Sea is described. Here, we present some of the key findings from this review. Physical conditions in this area are characterized by large seasonal contrasts between partial sea-ice cover in winter and spring versus predominantly open water in summer and autumn. Observations over recent decades show that surface air and ocean temperatures have increased, sea-ice extent has decreased, ocean stratification has weakened, and water chemistry and ecosystem components have changed. In general changes can be described as “Atlantification” and “borealisation,” with a less “Arctic” appearance. In consequence, only the northern part of the Barents Sea can be still called “Arctic”. The temporal and spatial changes have a wider relevance reaching beyond the Barents Sea, such as in the context of large-scale climatic (air, water mass and sea-ice) transport processes. The observed changes also have socioeconomic consequences, such as for fisheries and other human activities. Recent Barents Sea mooring data shows stronger inflow of warm water from the north during winter, affecting the sea ice locally. “The Nansen Legacy” has significantly reduced Barents Sea observation- and knowledge gaps, especially for winter months when field observations and sample collections have been sparse until recent.

How to cite: Gerland, S., Ingvaldsen, R. B., Reigstad, M., Sundfjord, A., Bogstad, B., Chierici, M., Eldevik, T., Hop, H., Renaud, P. E., Smedsrud, L. H., Stige, L. C., and Årthun, M.: Still Arctic? - The changing Barents Sea, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-8264, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-8264, 2024.

15:30–15:45
Discussion
Coffee break
Chairpersons: Céline Heuzé, Vasco Müller
16:15–16:25
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EGU24-16897
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On-site presentation
Assessing changes in winter sea ice deformation – from MOSAiC to the Fram Strait 
Polona Itkin and Dmitry Divine

During winter, sea ice is moving in cohesive clusters of ice plates. These clusters – hereafter named ‘Coherent Dynamic Elements’ (CDE) are composed of several areas of deformed and level ice, that slide coherently along active sea ice fractures. The largest sea ice fractures detectable from medium resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites (about 50 m spatial resolution) are the Linear Kinematic Features (LKFs). Sea ice deformation information can be estimated from the strain rates in the LKFs and as well from the geometrical characteristics of the CDEs. However, there is a sudden seasonal transition, at the point where the sea ice warms and loses its internal strength. After this transition the delineation of LKFs and CDEs from SAR becomes challenging. In this contribution we will analyze sea ice deformation during the drift of the MOSAiC expedition from October 2019 to July 2020. During this time, the expedition drifted the entire length of the Transpolar drift from the northern Laptev Sea into the Fram Strait and the sea ice surrounding it underwent numerous deformation events. The MOSAiC sea ice deformation data and the onset of the melt period is compared to the data over the Fram Strait, where the sea ice deformation can was estimated from SAR and upward looking sonar devices on fixed moorings for the period of 2010-2023. We will present the data on the changes in the onset of the melt period and show that MOSAiC year was a typical year representative for the sea ice deformation of the recent decade.

How to cite: Itkin, P. and Divine, D.: Assessing changes in winter sea ice deformation – from MOSAiC to the Fram Strait, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-16897, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-16897, 2024.

16:25–16:35
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EGU24-13914
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Sea Ice Drift Retrieval based on Fengyun-3D Multi-Sensor Data 
Xue Wang, Zhuoqi Chen, Zhizhuo Xu, Ruirui Wang, Ran Lu, Fengming Hui, and Xiao Cheng

Under the background of global warming, sea ice changes rapidly. Sea ice drift is an important indicator for sea ice flux, atmospheric and ocean circulation, and ship navigation. Currently, the large-scale observed sea ice drift datasets are mainly obtained based on single-sensor remotely sensed data, which suffer low spatial resolution or poor spatial continuity. Considering that passive microwave radiometer and medium-resolution optical sensor complement each other in terms of spatial resolution and continuity, this study proposed a novel sea ice drift retrieval method based on Fengyun-3D (FY-3D) multi-sensor data. The proposed method is summarized as follows. First, low resolution sea ice drift fields were obtained from FY-3D Microwave Radiation Imager (MWRI) data based on the normalized cross-correlation pattern-matching method. Then, fine resolution vectors were extracted from FY-3D Medium-Resolution Spectral Imager (MERSI) data based on A-KAZE feature-tracking method. Finally, the low resolution pattern-matching vectors and fine resolution feature-tracking vectors were merged together based on Co-Kriging algorithm to obtain the final sea ice drift result. The proposed method was evaluated by comparing the buoy displacements obtained from the International Arctic Buoy Program (IABP) with the retrieved merged vectors from FY-3D remotely sensed images collected in the Beaufort Sea, the East Siberian Sea, and the Fram Strait on 2020. The results showed that the proposed method can retrieve accurate, fine resolution and spatial continuous sea ice motion fields.

How to cite: Wang, X., Chen, Z., Xu, Z., Wang, R., Lu, R., Hui, F., and Cheng, X.: Sea Ice Drift Retrieval based on Fengyun-3D Multi-Sensor Data, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-13914, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-13914, 2024.

16:35–16:45
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EGU24-15778
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On-site presentation
Genesis and Decay of Baroclinic Eddies in the Seasonally Ice-Covered Arctic Ocean 
Gianluca Meneghello, John Marshall, Camille Lique, Pål Erik Isachsen, Edward Doddridge, Jean-Michel Campin, Heather Regan, and Claude Talandier

We explore the origin and evolution of mesoscale eddies in the seasonally ice-covered interior Arctic Ocean. Observations of ocean currents show a curious, and hitherto unexplained, vertical and temporal distribution of mesoscale activity. A marked seasonal cycle is found close to the surface: strong eddy activity during summer, observed from both satellites and moorings, is followed by very quiet winters. In contrast, subsurface eddies persist all year long within the deeper halocline and below.

We find that the surface seasonal cycle is controlled by friction with sea ice, dissipating existing eddies and preventing the growth of new ones. In contrast, subsurface eddies, enabled by interior potential vorticity gradients and shielded by a strong stratification at a depth of approximately 50 m, can grow independently of the presence of sea ice. 

We address possible implications for the transport of water masses between the margins and the interior of the Arctic basin, and for climate models’ ability to capture the fundamental difference in mesoscale activity between ice-covered and ice-free regions.

How to cite: Meneghello, G., Marshall, J., Lique, C., Isachsen, P. E., Doddridge, E., Campin, J.-M., Regan, H., and Talandier, C.: Genesis and Decay of Baroclinic Eddies in the Seasonally Ice-Covered Arctic Ocean, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-15778, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-15778, 2024.

16:45–16:55
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EGU24-6330
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On-site presentation
Recent estimates of the sea ice volume and solid freshwater flux across the Arctic’s major export passageways 
Stephen Howell, David Babb, Jack Landy, and Mike Brady

Sea ice export from the Arctic Ocean is important to the ice mass balance and freshwater budget of the Arctic Ocean and the delivery of freshwater to the North Atlantic. Historically, estimates of the sea ice volume and solid freshwater flux across the Arctic’s major export passageways were temporally limited in terms of available ice thickness data together with low spatial resolution satellite derived sea ice motion data. However, observational advances now provide year-round estimates of ice thickness from CryoSat-2 and high spatiotemporal estimates of sea ice motion can be derived from Senitnel-1 and the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites. In this presentation, we present the results of merging these datasets that provide new high-quality annual and monthly estimates of the sea ice volume flux across the Arctic’s major export passageways of Fram Strait, Nares Strait, Davis Strait and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago from 2016-2022. Over our study period, the annual average volume export at Fram Strait was 1586 km3 that agrees with its longer-term decline. The annual average volume export at Nares Strait and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago was 160 km3, and 43 km3, respectively that is in agreement with longer-term increases and indicates a divergent trajectory compared to Fram Strait. The annual average sea ice volume flux through Davis Strait was 816 km3, nearly double previous estimates. Annually, a total of 1912 km3 of solid freshwater was delivered to the North Atlantic from the passageways of Fram Strait and Davis Strait. Overall, our new high-quality estimates of these sea ice variables provide updated quantities for understanding recent changes in ice mass balance and freshwater budget of the Arctic Ocean and the freshwater balance of the North Atlantic, where overturning is critical to the global climate.

How to cite: Howell, S., Babb, D., Landy, J., and Brady, M.: Recent estimates of the sea ice volume and solid freshwater flux across the Arctic’s major export passageways, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-6330, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-6330, 2024.

16:55–17:05
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EGU24-20222
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ECS
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Virtual presentation
Surface Controls of Freshwater Export through Denmark Strait  
Emma Boland, Yavor Kostov, and Dani Jones

Denmark Strait is a key route for the export of freshwater from the Arctic. Understanding the controls on the amount of freshwater entering the Subpolar North Atlantic is key for understanding the implications of rapid changes in the region, such as recent observed freshening of the Arctic Ocean. We present the results of an adjoint modelling study, which uses the ECCOv4 ocean state estimate to produce a reconstruction of the freshwater transport at Denmark Strait from 1992 to 2017. The reconstruction is formed of contributions from surface fluxes of buoyancy and momentum. We investigate the relative importance of these different contributions on different spatial and temporal scales. We find that surface wind stress at up to 2 years lag dominates variability. We also find a seasonally varying pattern in the dominant lags, with winter fluxes showing peak correlations with contributions from lags of up to 4 years, whereas spring fluxes showing a peak correlations on the scale of weeks.

How to cite: Boland, E., Kostov, Y., and Jones, D.: Surface Controls of Freshwater Export through Denmark Strait , EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-20222, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-20222, 2024.

17:05–17:10
Short break / delay catch up
17:10–17:20
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EGU24-17166
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ECS
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On-site presentation
The Northeast Water Polynya, Greenland; Climatology, Atmospheric Forcing and Ocean Response 
Miriam Bennett, Ian Renfrew, David Stevens, and Kent Moore

The Northeast Water Polynya is a significant annually recurring summertime Arctic polynya, located off the coast of Northeast Greenland. It is important for marine wildlife and affects local atmospheric and oceanic processes. In this study, over 40 years of observational and reanalysis products (ERA5 and ORAS5) are analysed to characterise the polynya's climatology and ascertain forcing mechanisms. The Northeast Water Polynya has high spatiotemporal variability; its location, size and structure vary interannually, and the period for which it is open is changing. We show this variability is largely driven by atmospheric forcing. The polynya extent is determined by the direction of the near-surface flow regime, and the relative locations of high and low sea-level pressure centers over the region. The surface conditions also impact the oceanic water column, which has a strong seasonal cycle in potential temperature and salinity, the amplitude of which decreases with depth. The ocean reanalyses also show a significant warming trend at all depths and a freshening near the surface consistent with greater ice melt, but salinification at lower depths (~ 200 m). As the Arctic region changes due to anthropogenic forcing, the sea-ice edge is migrating northwards and the Northeast Water Polynya is generally opening earlier and closing later in the year. This could have significant implications for both the atmosphere and ocean in this complex and rapidly changing environment.

How to cite: Bennett, M., Renfrew, I., Stevens, D., and Moore, K.: The Northeast Water Polynya, Greenland; Climatology, Atmospheric Forcing and Ocean Response, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-17166, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-17166, 2024.

17:20–17:30
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EGU24-18020
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On-site presentation
Contrasting chemistry in the Central Arctic Ocean in a pan-Arctic and climate change perspective
(withdrawn)
Agneta Fransson, Melissa Chierici, Karen Assmann, Mats Granskog, and Bonnie Raffel
17:30–17:40
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EGU24-7486
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On-site presentation
Sea-ice lead dynamics in the Arctic Ocean and associated drivers 
Sascha Willmes, Günther Heinemann, and Michelle Rasic

Based on a novel sea-ice lead climatology derived from thermal-infrared satellite imagery we identify drivers of wintertime sea-ice dynamics in the Arctic Ocean. ERA-5 atmospheric reanalyses and large-scale sea-ice drift data are used to investigate the causes for prominent spatial patterns and for the inter-annual variability in the occurrence of sea-ice leads. We can show that large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns and the Arctic Oscillation determine where and to which extent leads form on weekly to monthly timescales. Events with strong lead openings can directly be associated with pronounced anomalies in wind divergence and sea-ice drift. We also show the dominant modes in the Arctic sea-ice lead variability and their relation to atmospheric circulation. Moreover, the role of ocean processes in shaping long-term spatial lead patterns in the Arctic Ocean is presented. Implications for sea-ice modelling, forecasts and future trends are discussed.

How to cite: Willmes, S., Heinemann, G., and Rasic, M.: Sea-ice lead dynamics in the Arctic Ocean and associated drivers, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-7486, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-7486, 2024.

17:40–17:50
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EGU24-20285
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On-site presentation
Export of Greenland Sea Water across the Mohn Ridge as Measured by a Mooring during 2016–2018 
Jinping Zhao, Xusiyang Shen, and Tore Hattermann

Cold and dense water from the Greenland Sea, which has been found in the Lofoten Basin in the Norwegian Sea, is an important contributor to the Greenland–Scotland Ridge overflow, which feeds the deep and bottom waters in the North Atlantic. These two basins are divided by the Mohn Ridge, but there is no clear current connecting them. The aim of this study is to investigate how the Greenland Sea water enters the Lofoten Basin. We deployed a mooring on the western flank of the Mohn Ridge to measure the potential transport across the ridge during two periods: 2016/17 and 2017/18. The observation results indicate that the water above 1500 m in the Greenland Sea can be intermittently transported to the Lofoten Basin. In addition, we observed periods of flow reversal, which indicate bidirectional exchange between the two basins across the ridge. Our data from three consecutive seasons indicate that such inflows in August–September are a typical feature of the exchange across the Mohn Ridge. Net exports during these two periods into the Lofoten Basin were eltimated to be 5.86 Sv and 3.00 Sv, exhibiting noticeable interannual variations. We propose two possible mechanisms that could be driving the export. One is due to passing cyclones, which lower the sea level height along the Mohn Ridge and drive outflow. The second is due to the sudden weakening of the wind in summer, which results in outflow from the Greenland Sea through temporary geostrophic deviation.

How to cite: Zhao, J., Shen, X., and Hattermann, T.: Export of Greenland Sea Water across the Mohn Ridge as Measured by a Mooring during 2016–2018, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-20285, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-20285, 2024.

17:50–18:00
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EGU24-9304
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Distribution and characteristics of subsurface eddies in the Aleutian Basin, Bering Sea 
Kun Zhang, Haibin Song, and Linghan Meng

The subarctic Bering Sea, situated between the Pacific Ocean and Arctic Ocean, stands as one of the world's most productive oceanic regions. While the role of oceanic eddies in material transport and energy transfer has been extensively studied, surface eddies have dominated these investigations owing to advancements in remote sensing technology. Recently, attention has shifted to subsurface eddies for their influence on enhancing oceanic mixing. However, challenges persist in delineating the distribution and characteristics of subsurface eddies in the Bering Sea due to the limited effectiveness of satellite methods and the scarcity of field observation.

Multichannel seismic (MCS) data can provide high-resolution acoustic images of subsurface thermohaline fine structures, known as seismic oceanography. In this study, we integrate MCS with concurrent vessel-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiles (vmADCP), expendable bathythermograph (XBT), and expendable Conductivity Temperature Depth (XCTD) data collected during cruise MGL1111, along with Argo and Copernicus Marine Service Global Ocean Physics Reanalysis data to investigate the distribution and characteristics of subsurface eddies in the Aleutian Basin.

The results underscore the presence of 44 subsurface eddies in the Aleutian Basin, primarily submesoscale with diameters averaging around 20 km. Eddy thickness spans 71.14 - 416.57 m, with eddy core depths ranging from 69.96 - 657.24 m, predominantly concentrated in the 100 - 200 m depth range; only 5 eddies exhibit core depths below 300 m. The cumulative volume of these eddies reaches approximately 434.38 × 109 m3, with the majority exhibiting anticyclonic characteristics, as corroborated by concurrent ADCP data. Analysis of historical CTD data, along with concurrent XBT and XCTD data from cruise MGL1111, delineates distinct water masses—Bering Sea Upper Water (BUW), Bering Sea Intermediate Water (BIW), and Bering Sea Deep Water (BDW)—in the study area. Most identified eddies are characterized as cold core, facilitating the transport of BIW. Trajectory assessments, incorporating concurrent Argo and Copernicus Marine Service Global Ocean Physics Reanalysis data, suggest an eastern and southern origin for these eddies, predominantly propagating westward. Assuming a propagating velocity of 1 cm/s, the estimated total transport of these eddies is approximately 1.76 Sv.

We believe that these findings will contribute essential insights to the fields of marine ecology, and climate studies, enhancing our knowledge of ocean dynamics in this critical region.

How to cite: Zhang, K., Song, H., and Meng, L.: Distribution and characteristics of subsurface eddies in the Aleutian Basin, Bering Sea, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-9304, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-9304, 2024.

Posters on site: Thu, 18 Apr, 10:45–12:30 | Hall X4

Display time: Thu, 18 Apr, 08:30–Thu, 18 Apr, 12:30
Chairpersons: Yufang Ye, Vasco Müller, Stefanie Rynders
X4.31
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EGU24-775
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ECS
The rapid life of Arctic sea-ice ridge consolidation and melt 
Evgenii Salganik, Benjamin Lange, Christian Katlein, Ilkka Matero, Dmitry Divine, Polona Itkin, Knut Høyland, and Mats Granskog

In this study, we cover observations of the rapid consolidation and enhanced melt of Arctic sea-ice ridges. During the freezing period, the consolidated part of sea ice ridges is usually up to 1.6–1.8 times thicker than surrounding level ice. Meanwhile, during the melt season, ridges are often observed to be fully consolidated, but this process is not fully understood. We present the evolution of the morphology and temperature of a first-year ice ridge studied during MOSAiC from its formation to advanced melt. From October to May, the draft of first-year ice at the MOSAiC coring site increased from 0.3 m to 1.5 m, while from January to July, the consolidated layer thickness in the ridge reached 3.9 m. We observed several types of ridge consolidation. From the beginning of January until mid-April, the ridge consolidated slowly through heat loss to the atmosphere, with a total consolidated layer growth of 0.7 m. From mid-April to mid-June, there was a rapid increase in ridge consolidation rates, despite conductive heat fluxes not increasing. In this period, the mean thickness of the consolidated layer increased by 2.2 m. We also estimated a substantial snow mass fraction (6%–11%) of ridges using analysis of oxygen isotope composition. Our observations suggest that this sudden change was related to the transport of snow-slush inside the ridge keel via adjacent open leads that decreased ridge macroporosity, which could result in more rapid consolidation.

During the summer season, sea ice melts from the surface and bottom. The melt rates substantially vary for sea ice ridges and undeformed first- and second-year ice. Ridges generally melt faster than undeformed ice, while the melt of ridge keels is often accompanied by further summer growth of their consolidated layer, which increases their survivability. We examined the spatial variability of ice melt for different types of ice from in situ drilling, coring, and multibeam sonar scans of the remotely operated underwater vehicle. Six sonar scans performed from 24 June to 21 July were analyzed and validated using seven ice drilling transects. The area investigated by the sonar (0.4 km by 0.2 km) consisted of several ice ridges, surrounded by first- and second-year ice. We show a substantial difference in melt rates for sea ice with a different draft. We also show how ridge keels decay depending on the keel draft, width, steepness, and location relative to the surrounding ridge keel edges. We also use temperature buoy data to distinguish snow, ice surface, and bottom melt rates for both ridges and level ice. These results are important for quantifying ocean heat fluxes for different types of ice during the advanced melt and for estimating the ridge contribution to the total ice mass and summer meltwater balances of the Arctic Ocean.

How to cite: Salganik, E., Lange, B., Katlein, C., Matero, I., Divine, D., Itkin, P., Høyland, K., and Granskog, M.: The rapid life of Arctic sea-ice ridge consolidation and melt, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-775, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-775, 2024.

X4.32
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EGU24-929
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ECS
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Highlight
Potential effects of summer Cryosat-2 sea ice thickness observations on sea ice forecast 
Ruizhe Song, Longjiang Mu, Xianyao Chen, Frank Kauker, Svetlana Loza, and Martin Losch

Skillful Arctic sea ice forecast for the melting season remains a great challenge because there is no reliable pan-Arctic sea ice thickness (SIT) data set for the summertime. A new summer Cryosat-2 SIT observation data set based on an artificial intelligence algorithm may mitigate the situation. We assess the impact of this new data set on the initialization of both short-term and long-term sea ice forecasts in the melting seasons of 2015 and 2016 in a sea-ice couple model with data assimilation. We find that the assimilation of the new summer CryoSat-2 SIT observations can reduce the summer ice edge prediction error. Further, adding SIT observations to an established forecast system with sea ice concentration assimilation leads to a more realistic short-term summer ice edge forecast in the Arctic Pacific sector. The long-term Arctic-wide SIT prediction is also improved especially before the onset of freezing. In spite of remaining uncertainties,  summer CryoSat-2 SIT observations have the potential to enhance Arctic sea ice forecast on multiple time scales.

How to cite: Song, R., Mu, L., Chen, X., Kauker, F., Loza, S., and Losch, M.: Potential effects of summer Cryosat-2 sea ice thickness observations on sea ice forecast, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-929, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-929, 2024.

X4.33
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EGU24-1250
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ECS
Deep water exchange in Fram Strait
(withdrawn)
Salar Karam, Celine Heuze, Mario Hoppmann, and Laura de Steir
X4.34
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EGU24-1921
Dynamical downscaling simulations and future projections of the Arctic Ocean based on FESOM and FIO-ESM. 
Qi Shu and Qiang Wang

The Arctic is one of Earth’s regions most susceptible to climate change. Climate models show that in a warming climate, the Arctic Ocean warms much faster than the global ocean mean, mainly due to the rapid warming of the Atlantic layer, which is called 'Arctic Ocean Amplification.' However, climate models still encounter challenges with large biases and considerable inter-model spread in the Arctic Ocean. For example, the Atlantic layer in the Arctic Ocean, simulated by the climate models, is too thick and too deep. This leads to the warming trend, and inter-annual variability of the simulated Atlantic Water that are too small compared to the observations. Here, we present Arctic Ocean dynamical downscaling simulations and projections based on a high-resolution ice-ocean coupled model, FESOM, and a climate model, FIO-ESM. The historical results demonstrate that the root mean square errors of temperature and salinity in the downscaling simulations are much smaller than those from CMIP6 climate models. The common biases, such as the overly deep and thick Atlantic layer in climate models, are significantly reduced by dynamical downscaling. Dynamical downscaling projections show that the Arctic Ocean may warm faster than the projections made by CMIP6 fully-coupled climate models.

How to cite: Shu, Q. and Wang, Q.: Dynamical downscaling simulations and future projections of the Arctic Ocean based on FESOM and FIO-ESM., EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-1921, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-1921, 2024.

X4.35
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EGU24-1922
Estimation of Sea Ice Production in the North Water Polynya Based on Ice Arch Duration in Winter During 2006–2019 
Fengming Hui, Haiyi Ren, Mohammed Shokr, Xiao Cheng, Xinqing Li, and Zhilun Zhang

The North Water Polynya (NOW) is the largest recurrent Arctic coastal polynya. The formation of the NOW is critically dependent on the development of an ice arch that defines its northern boundary. In this study, high-resolution ENVISAT Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar data, Sentinel-1A data, and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data were employed to identify the spatio-temporal characteristics of the ice arch during 2006–2019. Polynya pixels were identified based on the thin ice thickness (TIT), using a threshold of TIT <0.2 m, from which the polynya extent, heat flux, and ice production (IP) were estimated. The results show the different locations of the ice arch in different years, with a mean duration of 132 ± 69 days. The average annual polynya extent over the 14 years is ∼38.8 ± 8 × 103 km2, and we found that it is more closely correlated with wind speed during the winter and air temperature during early spring. The average heat flux drops from about 248 W/m2 in the winter months to about 34 W/m2 in May. The average accumulated IP varies significantly every year, with an average of 144 ± 103 km3, and peak values in March in most years. No apparent interannual trends are shown for the polynya area, heat flux, and IP during 2006–2019. The results also show that IP calculated based on the ice arch data is approximately 25% lower than that obtained by assuming a fixed time, location, and duration for the polynya.

How to cite: Hui, F., Ren, H., Shokr, M., Cheng, X., Li, X., and Zhang, Z.: Estimation of Sea Ice Production in the North Water Polynya Based on Ice Arch Duration in Winter During 2006–2019, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-1922, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-1922, 2024.

X4.36
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EGU24-2666
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Fine resolution classification of new ice, young ice, and first-year ice based on feature selection from Gaofen-3 quad-polarization SAR 
Haiyan Li and Kun Yang

Sea ice in the high latitude is an indicator of climate change and has undergone dramatic changes because of recent global warming. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a relatively practical tool for sea ice monitoring because of its low sensitivity to clouds, rain, and fog, as well as its capability for high-resolution earth observation in daylight or darkness. With the progression in SAR systems from single-pol to dual-pol, quad-pol and hybrid-pol, large numbers of parameters have been proposed for sea ice classification. Even though a large number of SAR characteristics have been used to classify sea ice, it remains unclear which parameters are the most effective for different regions and seasonal or environmental conditions. Meanwhile, classification studies for fine sea ice with high spatial resolution and many sub-types of sea ice, particularly in the case of rapidly changing first-year ice (FYI), which includes new ice (NI), young ice (YI), and FYI, are rather few. NI and YI have comparatively thinner thickness, and are often classified as FYI in these studies[1].

A new method of sea ice classification based on feature selection from Gaofen-3 polarimetric SAR observations is proposed. The new approach classifies sea ice into four categories: open water, NI, YI, and FYI. Seventy parameters that have previously been applied to sea ice studies are re-examined for sea ice classification in the Okhotsk Sea near the melting point on 28 February 2020. The ‘separability index’ is used for the selection of optimal features for sea ice classification. Full polarization (σohh, SEi, Ks) and hybrid polarization parameters (σorl, CPSEi,ρrh-rv, αs) are determined as optimal. The selected parameters are used to classify NI, YI, and FYI using a SVM machine learning classifier; and classification results are validated by manually interpreted ice maps derived from Landsat-8 data.

 


[1]Sea ice: types and forms - Canada.ca

How to cite: Li, H. and Yang, K.: Fine resolution classification of new ice, young ice, and first-year ice based on feature selection from Gaofen-3 quad-polarization SAR, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-2666, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-2666, 2024.

X4.37
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EGU24-2699
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Changes in ocean circulation and dissolved oxygen/nutrient distributions in the Canadian Basin 
Shigeto Nishino, Jinyoung Jung, Kyoung-Ho Cho, William Williams, Amane Fujiwara, Akihiko Murata, Motoyo Itoh, Eiji Watanabe, Mariko Hatta, Michiyo Yamamoto-Kawai, Takashi Kikuchi, Eun Jin Yang, and Sung-Ho Kang

The Arctic Ocean is facing dramatic environmental and ecosystem changes. To obtain the current baseline data, a coordinated multiship and multination pan-Arctic ship-based sampling campaign was implemented for the period between 2020 and 2022 under the project of Synoptic Arctic Survey (SAS). During the 2020 survey, unusually low dissolved oxygen and acidified water (salinity = 34.5) were found in a high-seas fishable area of the western (Pacific-side) Arctic Ocean. The data showed that the Beaufort Gyre (BG) shrunk to the east of the Chukchi Plateau (CP) and formed a front between the water within the gyre and the water from the eastern (Atlantic-side) Arctic. That phenomenon triggered a frontal northward flow along the CP. This flow likely transported the low oxygen and acidified water toward the high-seas fishable area; similar biogeochemical properties had previously been observed only on the shelf-slope north of the East Siberian Sea (ESS). Northward flows were also predominant west of the CP associated with the penetration of the water from the eastern Arctic. The northward flows would transport nutrient-rich shelf water (salinity = 32.5) from the ESS to the southwestern Canadian Basin (CB). Furthermore, the northeastward flow of the shrunk BG during the SAS period (2020-2022) could spread the nutrient-rich ESS shelf water to the northeastern CB. As a result, the nutrient concentration there during the SAS period was higher than the period when the BG enlarged to the west of CP, because the westward flow of the BG that overshot the CP inhibited the northward transport of the nutrient-rich ESS shelf water toward the southwestern CB. As a future study, we would like to combine the data from the Atlantic gateway because the ocean circulation and dissolved oxygen/nutrient distributions in the CB are largely influenced by the penetration of the water from the eastern Arctic. This is a reason why we have applied to present in this session.

How to cite: Nishino, S., Jung, J., Cho, K.-H., Williams, W., Fujiwara, A., Murata, A., Itoh, M., Watanabe, E., Hatta, M., Yamamoto-Kawai, M., Kikuchi, T., Yang, E. J., and Kang, S.-H.: Changes in ocean circulation and dissolved oxygen/nutrient distributions in the Canadian Basin, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-2699, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-2699, 2024.

X4.38
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EGU24-3080
No emergence of deep convection in the Arctic Ocean across CMIP6 models 
Céline Heuzé and Hailong Liu

As sea ice disappears, the emergence of open ocean deep convection in the Arctic, which would enhance ice loss, has been suggested. Here, using 36 state-of-the-art climate models and up to 50 ensemble members per model, we show that Arctic deep convection is rare under the strongest warming scenario. Only 5 models have convection by 2100, while 11 have had convection by the middle of the run. For all, the deepest mixed layers are in the eastern Eurasian basin. When the models convect, that region undergoes a salinification and increasing wind speeds; it is freshening otherwise. The models that do not convect have the strongest halocline and most stable sea ice, but those that lose their ice earliest -because of their strongly warming Atlantic Water- do not have a persistent deep convection: it shuts down mid-century. Halocline and Atlantic Water changes urgently need to be better constrained in models.  

How to cite: Heuzé, C. and Liu, H.: No emergence of deep convection in the Arctic Ocean across CMIP6 models, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-3080, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-3080, 2024.

X4.39
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EGU24-3752
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ECS
Latitudinal distribution of biomarkers across the western Arctic Ocean and the Bering Sea: an approach to assess sympagic and pelagic algal production 
Youcheng Bai, Marie-Alexandrine Sicre, Jian Ren, Vincent Klein, Haiyan Jin, and Jianfang Chen

The drastic decline of Arctic sea ice due to global warming and polar amplification of environmental changes in the Arctic basin profoundly alter primary production with consequences for polar ecosystems and the carbon cycle. In this study, we use highly branched isoprenoids (HBIs), brassicasterol, dinosterol and terrestrial biomarkers (n-alkanes and campesterol) in surface sediments to assess sympagic and pelagic algal production with changing sea-ice conditions along a latitudinal transect from the Bering Sea to the high latitudes of the western Arctic Ocean. Suspended particulate matter (SPM) was also collected in surface waters at several stations of the Chukchi Sea to provide snapshots of phytoplankton communities under various sea-ice conditions for comparison with underlying surface sediments. Our results show that sympagic production (IP25 and HBI-II) increased northward between 62°N and 73°N, with maximum values at the sea-ice edge in the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) between 70°N and 73°N in southeastern Chukchi Sea and along the coast of Alaska. They were consistently low at northern high latitudes (>73°N) under extensive summer sea-ice cover and in the Ice-Free Zone (IFZ) of the Bering Sea. Enhanced pelagic sterols and HBI-III occurred in the IFZ across the Bering Sea and in southeastern Chukchi Sea up to 70°N-73°N in the MIZ conditions that marks a shift of sympagic over pelagic production. In surface water SPM, pelagic sterols display similar patterns as Chl a, increasing southwards with higher amounts found in the Chukchi shelf pointing out the dominance of diatom production. Higher cholesterol values were found in the mid-Chukchi Sea shelf where phytosterols were also abundant. This compound prevailed over phytosterols in sediments, compared to SPM, reflecting efficient consumption of algal material in the water column by herbivorous zooplankton.

How to cite: Bai, Y., Sicre, M.-A., Ren, J., Klein, V., Jin, H., and Chen, J.: Latitudinal distribution of biomarkers across the western Arctic Ocean and the Bering Sea: an approach to assess sympagic and pelagic algal production, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-3752, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-3752, 2024.

X4.40
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EGU24-3959
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ECS
Arctic Wintertime Sea Ice Lead Detection from Sentinel-1 SAR Images 
Shiyi Chen, Mohammed Shokr, Lu Zhang, Zhilun Zhang, Fengming Hui, Xiao Cheng, and Peng Qin

Leads in sea ice cover are almost linear fractures within the pack ice, and are commonly observed in the polar regions. In winter, leads promote energy flux from the underlying ocean to the atmosphere. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) can monitor leads with a fine spatial resolution, regardless of solar illumination and atmospheric conditions. In this paper, we present an approach for automatic sea ice lead detection (SILDET) in the Arctic wintertime using Sentinel-1 SAR images. SILDET is made up of four modules: 1) a segmentation module; 2) a balance module; 3) an optimization module; and 4) a mask module. The validation results presented in this paper show that SILDET has the capability of detecting open and frozen leads at different stages of freezing. The lead map obtained from SILDET was compared to a lead dataset based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data and validated by the use of Sentinel-2 images. This shows that SILDET can provide a more detailed distribution of leads and better estimation of lead width and area. Compared with visual interpretation of Sentinel-1 images, the overall detection accuracy is 97.80% and the Kappa coefficient is 0.88 (for all types). The pyramid scene parsing network (PSPNet) in the segmentation module shows a better performance in detecting frozen leads, compared with the deep learning methods of UNet and DeepLabv3+. The optimization module utilizing shape features also improves the precision in detecting frozen leads. SILDET was applied to present the Arctic lead distribution in January and April 2023 with a spatial resolution of 40 m. The Arctic-wide lead width distribution follows a power law with an exponent of 1.64 ± 0.07. SILDET can be expected to provide long-term high-resolution lead distribution records.

How to cite: Chen, S., Shokr, M., Zhang, L., Zhang, Z., Hui, F., Cheng, X., and Qin, P.: Arctic Wintertime Sea Ice Lead Detection from Sentinel-1 SAR Images, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-3959, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-3959, 2024.

X4.41
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EGU24-6998
Surface silicate distribution in the Chukchi-shelf region during the Arctic summer cruises using programmable flow injection technique 
Mariko Hatta, Madeline Davis, and Chris Measures

The surface Arctic Ocean is subject to rapidly changing freshwater inputs, from increasing ice melt and riverine inputs. Close monitoring of inflow waters from the Pacific and Atlantic is also needed for understanding the balance of geochemical cycles and making future predictions in the Arctic.  However, our knowledge of ocean biogeochemical data is very limited, necessitating an expansion of spatial and temporal coverage. However, the acquisition of ocean samples is hindered by the intricate sampling and analytical procedures employed both at sea and on land.

In our recent work [Hatta et al, 2021; 2023], a miniaturized, automated, microfluidic analyzer for nutrient analysis was developed using the programmable flow injection (pFI) technique.  This innovative system achieves accurate measurements with minimal reagent use, computer-controlled manipulations, and auto-calibration techniques, thus it is a promising oceanographic tool for increasing sample acquisition and determination, as well as minimizing human error.  For the pFI technique, the traditional silicate (Si) molybdenum blue method was modified by combining oxalate and ascorbic acid into a single reagent. This new method obtained a limit of detection of 514 nM Si, r.s.d. 2.1%, sampling frequency rate of 40 samples per hour, reagent consumption of 700 microliters per sample, and use of deionized (DI) water as a carrier solution. Phosphate (P) does not interfere significantly in this technique if the Si:P ratio is 4:1 or larger. Additionally, since there is no salinity influence, samples collected from the open ocean, coastal areas, or rivers can all be determined accurately using a DI water-based standard calibration covering a single small range by diluting samples to fall within this limited range.

In this contribution, this new shipboard method using programmable Flow Injection will be presented along with high-resolution Si data from the Chukchi shelf.  These data were obtained every 10-20 minutes by directly connecting the pFI platform to the underway water sampling system during the RV Mirai summer cruises. This new analytical platform will allow us to significantly expand our database and thus help to constrain and quantify geochemical processes and budgets in the Arctic Ocean.

How to cite: Hatta, M., Davis, M., and Measures, C.: Surface silicate distribution in the Chukchi-shelf region during the Arctic summer cruises using programmable flow injection technique, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-6998, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-6998, 2024.

X4.42
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EGU24-8828
Changes of mesoscale eddy activity in the Eurasian Basin from 1-km simulations 
Vasco Müller, Qiang Wang, Nikolay Koldunov, Sergey Danilov, Xinyue Li, Caili Liu, and Thomas Jung

Mesoscale eddies play a crucial role in shaping the dynamics of the Arctic Ocean, making them essential for understanding future Arctic changes and the ongoing 'Atlantification' of the region. In this study, we use simulations generated by the unstructured-mesh Finite volumE Sea ice-Ocean Model (FESOM2) with a 1-km horizontal resolution in the Arctic Ocean.

Our investigation includes multiple simulations, namely a seven-year run representing the present-day climate and a slice simulation for the end of the 21st century, representative for a 4°C warmer world. Through these simulations, we evaluate changes in Eddy Kinetic Energy (EKE) within the Eurasian Basin and analyze their correlation with factors like sea-ice cover, baroclinic conversion rate, and stratification. To deepen our understanding, we combine Eulerian properties like EKE and baroclinic conversion rate with Lagrangian properties obtained from an algorithm that automatically identifies and tracks eddies using vector geometry.

Our findings from the end-of-century slice simulation indicate a significant increase in Arctic eddy activity in the future, accompanied by retreating sea ice. The present-day simulation reveals that the seasonality of EKE is mainly influenced by changes in sea ice, with distinct drivers at different depth levels for monthly anomalies. The mixed layer shows a robust connection to sea ice variability, while deeper levels, protected by stratification, are more significantly influenced by baroclinic conversion.

How to cite: Müller, V., Wang, Q., Koldunov, N., Danilov, S., Li, X., Liu, C., and Jung, T.: Changes of mesoscale eddy activity in the Eurasian Basin from 1-km simulations, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-8828, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-8828, 2024.

X4.43
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EGU24-9293
Analyzing Mesoscale Eddy Impact on the West Spitsbergen Current in the Fram Strait 
Hwa Chien, Yen-Chen Chen, Huang-Meng Chang, Ke-Hsien Fu, and Bo-Shian Wang

Accelerated melting of Arctic sea ice, a consequence of global warming, is being exacerbated by increased freshwater inputs. This has led to a significant reduction in the halocline layer within the Fram Strait, enhancing ocean stratification and creating a feedback loop that further accelerates sea ice loss. This process is critical for the formation of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW), where the West Spitsbergen Current (WSC) plays an essential role in recirculation.

Our study delves into the characteristics and influences of mesoscale eddies in the Fram Strait, particularly focusing on their impact on the WSC recirculation and NADW formation. Conducted over three years (2021-2023) during the months of minimal sea ice cover (August to October), the research involved deploying 36 specialized surface mini buoys across the strait. Analytical methods such as horizontal dispersion coefficients, finite-size Lyapunov exponents (FSLE), Lagrangian eddy identification, and sea surface temperature (SST) e-folding time were employed to assess WSC surface dynamics, eddy activities, and air-sea heat exchange.

Notably, we observed WSC bifurcation and intense mesoscale seawater mixing in the southwest Yermak Plateau and east of Molloy Deep (MD), areas marked by a rise in SST e-folding scale time gradient and considerable heat loss to the atmosphere (approximately 120 W/m²). Surface water convergence and sinking were detected near the western side of Molloy Deep and the Hovgaard (HG) regions, coinciding with high vorticity zones. Analysis of the buoy trajectories identified 682 eddy samples, forming the basis for a statistical examination of their size, period, intensity, and cyclonic features. This analysis was complemented by correlating eddy trajectories with sea surface height anomaly (SSHA) data, showing notable alignment.

Our results reveal a predominance of anticyclonic eddies in the Fram Strait, accounting for nearly 65% of the total eddies. Further, a consistency analysis between these eddies and wind stress curl indicated that about 66% of the anticyclonic eddies in the Molloy Deep region correlate with wind stress curl patterns, suggesting wind influence in their formation

How to cite: Chien, H., Chen, Y.-C., Chang, H.-M., Fu, K.-H., and Wang, B.-S.: Analyzing Mesoscale Eddy Impact on the West Spitsbergen Current in the Fram Strait, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-9293, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-9293, 2024.

X4.44
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EGU24-9400
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ECS
Spatial and temporal distribution of all Arctic Polynyas since 1979 
Hau Man Wong, Céline Heuzé, Luisa Ickes, and Lu Zhou

Polynyas, open water regions within the sea ice cover, have been observed by satellites intermittently in the Arctic region over the past few decades. Their formation is complex, requiring various drivers to precondition and trigger the opening, which then influences local and regional weather significantly. Therefore, understanding Arctic polynyas’ spatial and temporal distribution is crucial to studying the polynyas’ impacts on climate. To date, most research is local and short-term, focusing on the major active Arctic polynyas or specific events; there is a need for pan-Arctic, long-term studies of all polynyas. Here, we use all available sea ice satellite data products to investigate all Arctic polynya events since 1979, in particular their locations for each day. The location preciseness and robustness are examined by sensitivity tests, varying the sea ice concentration (20 – 40%) and thickness (10 – 30 cm) thresholds. In the meantime, polynyas’ daily area extent, event duration, and recurrence are also obtained. The results indicate that the Franz-Josef Land, Eastern Kara Sea, and Nares Strait are the most active polynya formation-prone regions during wintertime. In addition, there is an increasing trend of polynya formation across the observation period. In future work, we plan to use the retrieved locations to determine whether thermodynamics or dynamic forcings contribute most to the Arctic polynyas’ opening.

How to cite: Wong, H. M., Heuzé, C., Ickes, L., and Zhou, L.: Spatial and temporal distribution of all Arctic Polynyas since 1979, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-9400, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-9400, 2024.

X4.45
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EGU24-10445
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ECS
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Temporal and spatial variability of the oceanic front between the Atlantic Water and adjacent water masses north of Svalbard 
Stian Vikanes, Frank Nilsen, and Ragnheid Skogseth

The inflow of warm Atlantic Water (AW) into the Arctic Ocean is controlled by
oceanic fronts and air-ocean interactions north of Svalbard. The warm AW has
a significant impact on the sea ice extent and marine ecosystems in the region.
Therefore, it is crucial to understand the variability of the oceanic fronts offshore and
onshore of the AW, including their temporal and spatial characteristics, as well as
the mechanisms that govern them, such as atmospheric forcing, frontal instabilities,
and advection. However, our current understanding of the variability of these fronts
and AW north of Svalbard is limited due to lack of observational data. In this study,
we will use historical and more recent hydrographic data to analyze and describe
surface and subsurface fronts, both offshore and onshore of the AW core, in terms of
their dominant water masses along the continental slope north of Svalbard. We will
also determine the strength and position of these fronts by examining the horizontal
gradients in temperature, salinity, and density, and connect it to known changes in
the wind forcing.

How to cite: Vikanes, S., Nilsen, F., and Skogseth, R.: Temporal and spatial variability of the oceanic front between the Atlantic Water and adjacent water masses north of Svalbard, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-10445, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-10445, 2024.

X4.46
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EGU24-10598
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ECS
Detecting Linear Kinematic Features in Arctic Sea Ice in a Warmer World Using High Resolution Model Output 
Jan Gärtner

The polar sea ice cover exhibits narrow bands of increased deformation, resulting in the formation of leads and pressure ridges. They are referred to as linear kinematic features (LKFs). They are important features of the sea ice field as they directly influence the heat and momentum exchange between ocean and atmosphere. By doing so, they influence the development of not only the sea ice cover but also the ocean and the local climate. Conversely, LKFs are also influenced by climate changes as the sea ice cover will be affected by changes in atmospheric and ocean temperature. In this work, the LKFs in the Arctic sea ice cover in current climate are compared to those in a warmer world. An LKF detection and tracking algorithm will be used to create a climate change signal. For this, the number of LKFs as well as their lifetimes are taken into account. The data analyzed in this work is created by the ocean-sea ice model FESOM. As LKFs are highly localized features, using a high spatial resolution is crucial. The resolution used in the analyzed runs is 1km. They span over five years starting at 2010, 2050, and 2090.

How to cite: Gärtner, J.: Detecting Linear Kinematic Features in Arctic Sea Ice in a Warmer World Using High Resolution Model Output, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-10598, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-10598, 2024.

X4.47
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EGU24-11226
Weak signals of dense shelf water cascading in 2020 during a persisting phase of sporadic Atlantic water intrusions into the deep layer of the SW-Svalbard slope 
Patrizia Giordano, Manuel Bensi, Vedrana Kovacevic, Aniello Russo, and Leonardo Langone

The intensifying influence of warmer Atlantic Ocean waters in the Arctic, known as Arctic Atlantification, amplifies climate change effects by accelerating sea ice melting and altering ecosystems. Long-term data series are indispensable for discerning nuances in climate changes, especially when occurring in the deep ocean. They also provide a crucial temporal foundation for accurate modeling, useful to predict future scenarios and formulate effective strategies to address the challenges of climate change.

Here, we present oceanographic data collected from June 2014 to June 2023 at mooring site S1 (76°N, 14°E, 1040 m water depth), above the continental slope on the southwestern margin of Svalbard Archipelago (Fram Strait). There, the main branch of the West Spitsbergen Current transports Atlantic Water (in the upper layer) and Norwegian Sea Deep Water (below 900 m depth) poleward into the Arctic Ocean. Site S1 strategically lies at the convergence of Atlantic waters, the Arctic Ocean heat source, with waters from Storfjorden (Spitsbergen largest fjord) and shelf waters from the West Spitsbergen continental shelf. The oceanographic mooring S1 is part of the SIOS marine infrastructure network (Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System, https://sios-svalbard.org/), and has undergone progressive instrument improvement over time, adding data collection at the intermediate layer since the summer 2022.

We focus on exploring short-term and seasonal variations in thermohaline properties, ocean currents, and particulate fluxes recorded in the deep layer over the last nine years. This analysis is undertaken in conjunction with meteorological conditions and trends in sea ice concentration. Oceanographic mooring data together with repeated Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) casts during summer surveys, show that the period 2014-2021 was characterized by the absence of dense shelf water exported at the near bottom on the slope, probably due to a limited production of dense water in the fjords, while the wind-induced vertical mixing and the resulting internal oscillations were probably favoured. During this period, a gradual decline in sea ice cover in winter is observed in the S1 area and adjacent fjords. The only exception is the winter 2020, when the sea ice extent returned apparently to pre-2013 levels, and at 1000m depth there were weak signals of cascading of dense shelf water, probably originated in the Storfjorden polynya.

Contrary to what is clearly evident in the literature regarding the increasing propagation of Atlantic waters northwards, temperature and salinity at mooring S1 showed no, or very little, positive trends over the investigated period. However, sporadic intrusions of relatively warm and saline water into the deep layer were observed. These occur most frequently in winter and are associated with the passage of internal waves that promote turbulent mixing of intermediate Atlantic waters with deep waters, facilitating the heat diffusion into the ocean depths.

How to cite: Giordano, P., Bensi, M., Kovacevic, V., Russo, A., and Langone, L.: Weak signals of dense shelf water cascading in 2020 during a persisting phase of sporadic Atlantic water intrusions into the deep layer of the SW-Svalbard slope, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-11226, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-11226, 2024.

X4.48
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EGU24-12174
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ECS
Feasibility of using C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar datasets for long term (1991-present) sea ice monitoring: towards multi-decadal analysis of sea ice type changes in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic Ocean 
Wenkai Guo, Anthony Paul Doulgeris, Johannes Lohse, Malin Johansson, Polona Itkin, Torbjorn Eltoft, Jack Landy, and Shiming Xu

We present a feasibility assessment of using several publicly available C-band wide-swath SAR datasets to derive sea ice type maps in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic Ocean from 1991 to present. This region is characterized by highly variable and dynamic sea ice conditions, and temporally consistent, large-scale monitoring of sea ice parameters is only possible through satellite remote sensing. We use data from C-band sensors including Sentinel-1, RADARSAT-2, Envisat ASAR and ERS-1/2, which have similar central frequencies and spatial resolution, to cover the study period. We evaluate comparative image classification performances and classification consistency using these datasets with common training datasets in geographically and temporally overlapping scenes and a sea ice classifier correcting for per-class incidence angle (IA) effects. Through this evaluation, we demonstrate the differences in these datasets affecting sea ice classification and the feasibility of using legacy sensors including Envisat ASAR and ERS-1/2 to extend the time series of sea ice type maps back to 1991 in our study area. This study provides theoretical support for the establishment of a multi-decadal SAR-based sea ice type product, which will contribute to the assessment of seasonal and inter-annual sea ice variations, especially the variability in new ice formation, which strongly influences physical and biogeochemical processes across the ocean-ice-atmosphere interface. This study is part of the collaborative project INTERAAC (air-snow-ice-ocean INTERactions transforming Atlantic Arctic Climate) between Norway and China, which aims at generating a reconciled multi-mission Climate Data Record (CDR) for Atlantic Arctic sea ice.

How to cite: Guo, W., Doulgeris, A. P., Lohse, J., Johansson, M., Itkin, P., Eltoft, T., Landy, J., and Xu, S.: Feasibility of using C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar datasets for long term (1991-present) sea ice monitoring: towards multi-decadal analysis of sea ice type changes in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic Ocean, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-12174, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-12174, 2024.

X4.49
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EGU24-12688
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ECS
Variability of the Barents-Kara Sea Sea Ice Area and its Correlation with Atlantic Water Recirculation through the Barents Sea Opening 
Finn Heukamp and Claudia Wekerle

In this study, we investigate the interannual variability of the sea ice area (SIA) in the Barents-Kara Sea (BKS) region. We explore the contributing factors to this variability, primarily focusing on oceanic influences evident in the Barents Sea Opening (BSO). The BSO, characterized by eastward warm Atlantic Water (AW) inflow, plays a crucial role in shaping the BKS SIA. While the inflow has been extensively studied, the westward-directed outflow known as Bear Island Slope Current (BISC), remains insufficiently observed. Being fed by relatively warm recirculating modified AW (mAW), the BISCs impact on the overall ocean heat transport (OHT) variability is uncertain.

 

Utilizing the global Finite Volume Sea Ice and Ocean Model (FESOM2.1), we derive estimates of the interannual volume transport and temperature variability of the BISC, filling the observational gap. We find that whereas the variability of BSO inflow/BISC volume transport is similar in magnitude, the temperature variability of the BISC exceeds the BSO inflow temperature variability. By linking the simulated BISC variability to BKS SIA, our findings reveal a yet unknown, strong co-variation between the volume transport of the BISC and the BKS SIA at the end of the freezing season, with a short lead time of zero to three months. We thus further examine the role of the BISC in generating interannual anomalies in the BKS SIA. Our model simulations illustrate that the volume transport of the BISC can be modified by the emergence of a secondary mAW recirculation downstream the northern AW path through the BS in the months preceding anomalously large BKS SIA. This secondary mAW recirculation is thereby increasing the volume transport of mAW leaving the BS via the BISC, reducing the amount of AW reaching the northern Barents Sea ice edge downstream. Additionally, we identify a connection between the atmospheric forcing pattern associated with the volume transport variability of the BISC and anomalous sea ice advection into the BKS as a second cause for the BISC volume transport/BKS SIA co-variability.

In general, our study emphasizes the co-variability between BKS SIA and the BISC. We highlight the role of the mAW recirculations in altering the amount of AW, and consequently ocean heat, reaching the ice edge in the northwestern Barents Sea.

How to cite: Heukamp, F. and Wekerle, C.: Variability of the Barents-Kara Sea Sea Ice Area and its Correlation with Atlantic Water Recirculation through the Barents Sea Opening, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-12688, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-12688, 2024.

X4.50
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EGU24-14215
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ECS
Potential of diatoms in sediments as seeds for autumn blooms in the Pacific Arctic shelf 
Yuri Fukai, Amane Fujiwara, Shigeto Nishino, Kohei Matsuno, and Koji Suzuki

The Pacific gateway to the Arctic has a vast continental shelf spanning the northern Bering and the Chukchi Seas. Within this shelf region, diatoms are crucial in sustaining high primary production and facilitating the sinking particulate organic carbon flux from spring to summer. Consequently, the bottom sediments have abundant viable diatoms, including resting stages. Despite the importance of diatoms, our understanding of the dynamics of this organism in sediments and their capacity to initiate primary production in the Pacific Arctic shelf remains limited.

In this study, we delved into the photophysiological capabilities of diatoms in the surface sediments collected from the Chukchi Sea in autumn through a laboratory incubation experiment at 3°C under the light conditions of 300 or 30 µmol photons m-2 s-1 for seven days. This experiment revealed that diatoms, mainly Chaetoceros, quickly resumed photosynthesis after light exposure and reached the maximum photosynthetic carbon fixation rates within only several days. These results suggest that diatoms in sediments have a significant potential to function as “seeds” for bloom formation in the sunlit water column. We further examined diatom communities, including resting spores, in the water column of the Chukchi Sea during autumn using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and DNA metabarcoding techniques, as well as environmental parameters. Consequently, intense winds and subsequent water turbulence in the shallow Chukchi caused the predominance of Chaetoceros resting spores, probably derived from the sediments, in the diatom assemblages. As speculated from the incubation experiment mentioned above, diatom resting spores from the sediments can germinate immediately in the water column. Thus, settled diatoms could work as seeds for subsequent autumn blooms by being supplied from the seafloor along with nutrient-rich water.

The recent delayed sea ice formation in the autumn Arctic leads to increased storm occurrence over open water and enhanced vertical mixing, resulting in more frequent autumn blooms. Therefore, diatoms in sediments could be one of the critical contributors to autumn blooms in the shallow Pacific Arctic.

How to cite: Fukai, Y., Fujiwara, A., Nishino, S., Matsuno, K., and Suzuki, K.: Potential of diatoms in sediments as seeds for autumn blooms in the Pacific Arctic shelf, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-14215, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-14215, 2024.

X4.51
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EGU24-14505
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ECS
Winter to summer evolution of pCO2 in surface water of northern Greenland fjords  
Camille Akhoudas, Christian Stranne, Karl Adam Ulfsbo, Brett Thornton, and Martin Jakobsson

Ocean acidification induced by the absorption of anthropogenic CO2 and its consequences pose a potential threat to marine ecosystems around the globe. The Arctic Ocean, particularly vulnerable to acidification, provides an ideal region to investigate the progression and impacts of acidification before they manifest globally. Recent documentation of undersaturated surface waters in carbonate minerals in the Sherard Osborn fjord in northwest Greenland, a region visited for the first time in summer 2019, reveals inherent variability in biogeochemical processes. Associated with highly acidic surface waters, the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) was undersaturated relative to the atmosphere, indicating this study area as a CO2 sink. To comprehend variations in pCO2 in the northwest Greenland fjords and identify its drivers, we conducted a comparative study between two fjords in the region (Petermann and Sherard Osborn fjords) and used carbonate system data from the temperature minimum layer to examine the winter-to-summer evolution of pCO2 and influencing factors. Additionally, we evaluated pCO2 variations (δpCO2) concerning temperature, freshwater inputs, biological activity, and air-sea CO2 uptake to quantitatively assess the seasonal influencing factors on surface ocean pCO2. In the Sherard Osborn fjord, despite a substantial increase in surface temperature from winter to summer potentially increasing pCO2 and causing CO2 supersaturation relative to the atmosphere, freshwater inflow and biological activity reduced pCO2, resulting in CO2 undersaturation relative to the atmosphere. In the Petermann fjord, pCO2 remained lower than atmospheric levels due to a slight seasonal variation in surface temperature and significant biological activity, reducing pCO2 in surface water.

How to cite: Akhoudas, C., Stranne, C., Ulfsbo, K. A., Thornton, B., and Jakobsson, M.: Winter to summer evolution of pCO2 in surface water of northern Greenland fjords , EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-14505, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-14505, 2024.

X4.52
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EGU24-18118
Arctic Ocean simulations in two high-resolution coupled climate models 
Chuncheng Guo, Mats Bentsen, Aleksi Nummelin, Mehmet Ilicak, Alok Gupta, and Andreas Klocker

Large model spread and biases exist in simulating the Arctic Ocean water mass and circulations from the latest CMIP6 coupled and ocean-sea ice-only simulations. This can be at least partly attributed to large uncertainties due to unresolved key processes in this region, and it is hoped that high resolution can - to a certain extent - come to the rescue.

In this work, we first examined two high-resolution simulations by two CMIP6-class models: 1) a multi-centennial integration of CESM (CESM-HR; ocean resolution 1/10-deg), and 2) a 50-year integration of NorESM (NorESM-MX; ocean resolution 1/8-deg). The two models show clear signs of improvements in simulating the Arctic Ocean compared to their standard 1-deg resolution counterparts, but certain biases remain, such as the incorrect pathway of the Atlantic Water and the too-deep mixed layer depth in NorESM-MX.

We then performed and analysed a similar NorESM-MX simulation, but this time with a newly developed hybrid vertical coordinate (z-density) in the ocean model (the default is isopycnal/density coordinate). ​​Experience from hybrid coordinate testing runs in standard 1-deg resolution shows e.g. much-improved water masses and sea ice extent in the Southern Ocean, mixed layer depths, and importantly more rapid equilibration to energy balance in coupled simulations. When applied in the high-resolution NorESM-MX configuration, the results with the new coordinate show a much-improved representation of the pathway of Atlantic water and the distribution of mixed layer depth in the Arctic Ocean. 

How to cite: Guo, C., Bentsen, M., Nummelin, A., Ilicak, M., Gupta, A., and Klocker, A.: Arctic Ocean simulations in two high-resolution coupled climate models, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-18118, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-18118, 2024.

X4.53
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EGU24-18702
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ECS
Observation of temporal and spatial variability of deep near-inertial waves in the western Arctic Ocean 
Chanhyung Jeon, Samuel Boury, Kyoung-Ho Cho, Eun-Joo Lee, Jae-Hun Park, and Thomas Peacock

Near‐inertial waves are waves propagating in the interior of the ocean. Created by surface storms, they have the potential to influence the ocean environment by inducing vertical mixing. Compared to other oceans, the Arctic Ocean has low near-inertial wave activity, but might be changing. It is a challenge, however, to predict near-inertial wave activity in the Arctic Ocean due to its intricate vertical salinity and temperature stratification. Our in-situ campaign has obtained the first direct deep current measurements revealing notable temporal and spatial variability of deep near-inertial waves in the western Arctic Ocean. These observations are an important step towards a clearer depiction of the evolving energy budget, and concomitant mixing, associated with potentially high impact near-inertial wave activity in an increasingly ice-free Arctic Ocean.

How to cite: Jeon, C., Boury, S., Cho, K.-H., Lee, E.-J., Park, J.-H., and Peacock, T.: Observation of temporal and spatial variability of deep near-inertial waves in the western Arctic Ocean, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-18702, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-18702, 2024.

X4.54
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EGU24-18990
Extreme sea ice motion -- analysis of ice drifter buoy data in the Gulf of Bothnia  
Henri Vuollekoski, Mikko Lensu, and Jari Haapala

Sea ice and particularly its motion are problematic for vessels and structures in water areas that experience sea ice. For example, several offshore wind farms are planned to be installed in the Gulf of Bothnia, but uncertainty related to extreme sea ice motion is likely to worry potential investors. Winter navigation, particularly in the coastal boundary zone, can be difficult. While climate change is likely to decrease the average ice concentration, extrema may become more severe. 

The motion of sea ice is affected by wind, currents and internal dynamics of the ice field, which are highly complex and inadequately understood. In this study we analyze time-series of data from ice drifter buoys deployed in the Gulf of Bothnia, Baltic Sea, during 2012 - 2023. The combination of data from multiple buoys, ice charts as well as other observations and model forecasts on the atmosphere-sea-ice interaction allows for estimating various parameters for the respective ice fields, such as shear, divergence and deformation, as well as temporal and spatial variability.

How to cite: Vuollekoski, H., Lensu, M., and Haapala, J.: Extreme sea ice motion -- analysis of ice drifter buoy data in the Gulf of Bothnia , EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-18990, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-18990, 2024.

X4.55
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EGU24-19583
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Transports through the Arctic gateways linked to the ocean gyres in the Carbon Dioxide removal (CDR) CMIP6 simulations 
Yevgeny Aksenov and Stefanie Rynders

Currently freshwater anomaly is building up in the Beaufort gyre of the Arctic Ocean. There is a risk that this freshwater may discharge into the North Atlantic, disrupting the Atlantic Meridional Overturing Circulation (AMOC). Recent changes in Beaufort gyre size and circulation suggest this may occur soon or has already started: the North Atlantic has recently experienced its largest freshening for the last 120 years. In contrast, so far there is only limited evidence of Arctic fresh water impacting freshwater accumulation in the Labrador Sea. The North Atlantic is a region of high variability on interannual to decadal timescales, potentially affecting European and global climates.

The study focuses on changes in oceanic transports through the Arctic gateways under the Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) es-SSP5-3.4-ov CMIP6 emission–driven scenario 2015-2100 and analyses UKESM1 simulations. We examine historical and projected periods and compare the model results to the long-term observations in the key Arctic straits. The difference between the present-day and future model transports is in their partitioning between Fram Strait: in the future most of the Atlantic model inflow occurs via the Barents Sea (5.2 Sv northwards); model 2000-2020s and 2040-2090s Fram Strait transports are 2.4 Sv and 4.6 Sv southwards. It is worth noting that the observed Fram Strait volume transport estimates bear a large uncertainty, from 2.0±2.7 Sv southwards from moorings to 1.1±1.2 Sv from inverse modelling and 0.8 ±1.5 Sv from geostrophic analysis.

The model results show that during the increase of CO2 in the 2040s–2060s, the Beaufort Gyre is getting stronger, whereas the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre (SPG) weakens. At the carbon dioxide removal phase (2060s–2090s) the Beaufort Gyre is strengthened while SPG weakened further. However, the cyclonic gyres in the Nordic Seas (Greenland, Iceland and Norwegian) become stronger. This points to a potential future change in the oceanic pathways between the Arctic and the North Atlantic. The corresponding heat transports due to overturning and gyres present different trends in the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean and different reversibility at latitudes between 26°N and 80°N, suggesting loss of immediate oceanic connectivity between the Atlantic and the Arctic via Nordic Seas. The simulations show a hysteresis in the AMOC: AMOC does not recover to the same level as before the mitigation even if the atmospheric CO2 concentration does.

Acknowledgement: We acknowledge funding from the EC Horizon Europe project OptimESM “Optimal High Resolution Earth System Models for Exploring Future Climate Changes”, grant 101081193 and UKRI grant 10039429, from the project EPOC “Explaining and Predicting the Ocean Conveyer”, EU grant 101059547 and UKRI grant 10038003, as well as from NERC highlight topics 2023 project “Interacting ice Sheet and Ocean Tipping - Indicators, Processes, Impacts and Challenges (ISOTIPIC)”. For the EU projects the work reflects only the authors’ view; the European Commission and their executive agency are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information the work contains.

How to cite: Aksenov, Y. and Rynders, S.: Transports through the Arctic gateways linked to the ocean gyres in the Carbon Dioxide removal (CDR) CMIP6 simulations, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-19583, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-19583, 2024.

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EGU24-19973
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ECS
Exploring links between Mixed-Layer depth and Sea Ice concentration variability in the Greenland Sea. 
Sonia Domingo, Joan Mateu Horrach, Alfredo Izquierdo, and Ángel Rodriguez

The Greenland Sea is a key player in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), crucial for forming dense waters through open-water convection and influencing global climate dynamics. Recent changes, such as decreasing sea ice concentration (SIC) and the shoaling of the mixed layer depth (MLD), have spurred detailed research into their impact on the AMOC. Our study, using the latest TOPAZ reanalysis, explores these changes from 1991 to 2021.

To strengthen our findings, we meticulously compare a 10-year observational dataset, validating TOPAZ's ability to reproduce processes like dense water formation and MLD evolution in the Greenland Sea. We find notable agreement, with the MLD reaching intermediate depths, and TOPAZ's overflow water density aligning with observations. Results show a decrease in SIC and a shallowing of the MLD, linked to rising surface water temperatures.

While our results indicate a similar trend, we're not ready to draw final conclusions. Further analysis is needed to understand how observational data compares to TOPAZ findings. Although reanalysis data provides valuable insights, it's crucial to validate everything with observational data. The comprehensive dataset and almost daily temporal resolution of our observational platforms significantly bolster the reliability of our conclusions.

Understanding Greenland Sea variability is vital not only for decoding its role in the AMOC but also for grasping broader implications for the global climate system. By highlighting the intricate relationship between SIC, MLD, temperature, and salinity, our research contributes to the ongoing dialogue on climate change dynamics.

 

How to cite: Domingo, S., Horrach, J. M., Izquierdo, A., and Rodriguez, Á.: Exploring links between Mixed-Layer depth and Sea Ice concentration variability in the Greenland Sea., EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-19973, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-19973, 2024.

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EGU24-20571
A New Sea Ice Type Concentration Retrieval Algorithm from Microwave Remote Sensing Data 
Yufang Ye, Yanbing Luo, Mohammed Shokr, Zhuoqi Chen, and Xiao Cheng

Sea ice types, e.g., first-year ice (FYI) and multi-year ice (MYI), can be discriminated based on their radiometric and scattering signatures. However, changes in ice surfaces caused by factors such as ice deformation and melt-refreeze events can lead to extensive ice type misclassification. To solve this problem, a new sea ice type concentration (SITC) algorithm from microwave observations (SITCAM) is proposed in this study. It builds upon a previous algorithm, namely ECICE, but improves from two perspectives. Firstly, a new cost function is employed, with weights indicating the separation efficiencies of microwave parameters. Secondly, a pre-classification scheme is incorporated to account for the bimodal distributions in microwave characteristics. With SITCAM, daily Arctic SITCs are retrieved for the winters of 2002–2011 using passive (AMSR-E) and active (QuikSCAT and ASCAT) microwave data. The results are compared with a sea ice age product (SIA) and evaluated with ice type samples and SAR images. Overall, SITCAM performs well on mitigating the misclassifications induced by the aforementioned factors. The Arctic MYI area agrees well with that from SIA. Compared to ECICE, the retrieval accuracy for MYI and FYI samples increases to 96% and 90%, respectively (increasing by 5% and 15%, respectively), in SITCAM. The bias in MYI concentration between the SITC retrievals and SAR-based results has reduced from 15% to 4%. Furthermore, instead of being limited to specific observations (e.g., Ku-band scatterometer data), SITCAM performs well with various combinations of microwave data, even solely passive microwave data. This universality allows for a long-term record of SITC, which enables the potential of dating SITC back to late 1970s.

How to cite: Ye, Y., Luo, Y., Shokr, M., Chen, Z., and Cheng, X.: A New Sea Ice Type Concentration Retrieval Algorithm from Microwave Remote Sensing Data, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-20571, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-20571, 2024.

Posters virtual: Thu, 18 Apr, 14:00–15:45 | vHall X4

Display time: Thu, 18 Apr, 08:30–Thu, 18 Apr, 18:00
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EGU24-20798
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ECS
Why is Summertime Arctic Sea Ice Drift Speed Projected to Decrease?
(withdrawn)
Jamie L Ward and Neil F Tandon