Smoother sea ice with fewer pressure ridges in a more dynamic Arctic

Pressure ridges, formed by sea ice deformation, affect momentum transfer in the Arctic Ocean and support a larger biomass than the surrounding-level ice. Although trends in Arctic sea ice thickness and concentration are well documented, changes in ridge morphology remain unclear. This study provides airborne-based evidence of a shift towards a smoother ice surface, with fewer pressure ridges and reduced surface drag, attributed to the loss of old ice. Furthermore, an increase in seasonal ice cover enhances overall deformation in the Arctic and acts as a negative feedback mechanism on pan-Arctic ridge morphology: the greater the proportion of seasonal ice, the higher the pan-Arctic mean ridge rate, dampening an overall decline in ridges with age. While thinner and less frequent ridges benefit industries such as shipping, these changes are likely to have profound impacts on the energy and mass balance and the ecosystem of the Arctic Ocean.

AWI Organizations > Geosciences > Terrestrial Environmental Systems
AWI Organizations > Climate Sciences > Atmospheric Physics
Helmholtz Research Programs > CHANGING EARTH (2021-2027) > PT2:Ocean and Cryosphere in Climate > ST2.2: Variability and Extremes
Aircraft > Aircraft Polar 4
Aircraft > Aircraft Polar 5
Aircraft > Aircraft Polar 6
Vessels > Polarstern
POLAR 6 > IceBird-W23
POLAR 6 > IceBird
POLAR 6 > IceBird
POLAR 6 > MOSAiC IceBird
POLAR 6 > PAMARCMIP 2019
POLAR 6 > P6_211_ASIMBO_2018
POLAR 6 > P6_207_TIFAX_2017
POLAR 5 > PAMARCMIP 2017
POLAR 6 > TIFAX
POLAR 5 > PAMARCMiP - NETCARE Spring
POLAR 5 > MELTEX-II
POLAR 5 > TIFAX_2011
POLAR 5 > TIFAX
POLAR 5 > TIFAX
POLAR 5 > SoRPiC
PS > 144
PS > 138
PS > 106
ARK > XI > 1
ARK > XII
ARK > XVII > 2
ARK > XIX > 1
ARK > XX > 2
ARK > XXIII > 2
POLAR 5 > PAM-ARCMIP
POLAR 5 > PAM-ARCMiP 2011