Two of the Nansen Center’s researchers, Artem Moiseev and Anton Korosov, have been on a five-week cruise aboard the RV Kronprins Haakon in the Greenland Sea. The expedition was organised by the EU project “ROVER”, which is led by the University of Bergen. Moiseev and Korosov were invited to join the expedition and had the opportunity to carry out a planned study of how wind and currents affect the distribution, movement, and extent of sea ice.
The marginal ice zone is the name given to the transition area between ice-covered and ice-free seas in the Arctic. The extent and character of the zone changes with the seasons, as ice melts in summer and refreezes in winter. In addition to the seasonal changes, there are also day-to-day changes through the influence of wind, ocean currents, and temperatures. The marginal ice zone also behaves differently in different parts of the Arctic, dependent on local influences.
The marginal ice zone plays an important role in climate research because it regulates the exchange of heat, moisture, and gases between sea and air, thereby influencing ocean currents, weather patterns, and climate. Precise information about the extent and movements of the marginal ice zone is also of crucial importance for shipping traffic. Planning efficient and safe routes saves time and fuel and reduces the risk of accidents. So, how can we provide reliable and up-to-date information about conditions in these areas?
Instruments on board satellites provide important information about sea-ice drift and ocean currents. The satellites emit electromagnetic waves that are reflected on the surface of the ocean and sea ice and sent back to the satellite. This is a remote sensing method known as SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar), which can be used for many different purposes regardless of weather and light conditions.
During the expedition, this type of satellite data was analysed daily on board. Artem Moiseev has developed a method whereby SAR data can be used to calculate sea-ice drift and ocean currents, thereby increasing our understanding of conditions in the ice edge zone. This work is part of the ESA-funded “UpperDyn” project. Moiseev has shown that such satellite data has great potential for further use, including for daily updates on ice conditions. Such a service would benefit all types of shipping traffic in the marginal ice zone.
The mission of the “ROVER” project was to investigate the effects of climate change along the ice edge zone. In this work, the UiB researchers used these daily updates on sea-ice and ocean conditions. The data was presented through the Nansen Center’s in-house visualisation portal – NARVAL – which clearly showed how conditions developed from hour to hour, and from day to day. In this way, both the expedition participants and the crew on board were able to test the usefulness of using satellite data to support the planning and implementation of research work in the field.
Anton Korosov also gathered data on sea-ice and ocean conditions, but using a more direct method. He attached buoys with measuring instruments to ice floes and used these to collect data on the movement of the ice floes and the waves in the areas. The data was made available in real time through a satellite communication network. The data collected will be used in the “ARKTALAS” project, led by the Nansen Center.
By collating and comparing ice buoy data with satellite data, a product will be developed that will contribute to more precise forecasts. This will be of major value when planning ship routes in ice-covered waters.
The collected data is also used in the work of the ongoing “ForWArd” project, led by Guillaume Boutin at the Nansen Center. The data is compared with the sea-ice and wave forecasts from our in-house sea-ice model neXtSIM, which is linked to a wave model. The quality of the forecasts is examined for different conditions and periods, and the forecasts are improved by taking into account actual data on the impact of ice on waves, and the impact of waves on the ice, and adjusting the model calculations. The work provides a better understanding of the important processes in the marginal ice zone, which in turn leads to better quality sea-ice forecasts.
By participating in this cruise, the Nansen Center’s researchers collected valuable data. Such data forms an important basis for checking and further developing the quality of satellite products and sea-ice models. We have also gained a better understanding of how ocean conditions affect the marginal ice zone along East Greenland. We would like to thank Professor Kjetil Våge and the University of Bergen for the opportunity to join this expedition!
Key researchers: Anton Korosov, Artem Moiseev
