Air-sea-ice interactions

The air over the Arctic Ocean is very dry and cold, down to -40°C in winter. The ocean temperature under the ice, on the other hand, is “only” -2°C. The two environments, air and ocean, are very different, and the ice acts as a separation between the two. But the ice is not solid, like a lid. It moves, and is continuously pushed and pulled by wind, ocean currents, and waves. This causes the ice to crack open or be compressed. Storms coming in over the Arctic Ocean will have a major impact on this dynamic. When cold and dry air is exposed to relatively warm water in a crack in the ice, the air will quickly heat up and get more moist as water evaporates. This affects wind and precipitation. In the spring, openings in the ice will let in light, which provides fertile ground for algae growth and bustling wildlife. We use high-resolution satellite images in combination with the sea-ice model “neXtSIM” to look at the interaction between air, sea, and ice, and how these processes affect the environment and climate.