Polar oceans and sea ice in a changing climate
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https://hdl.handle.net/10037/31872Date
2023-10-18Type
Journal articleTidsskriftartikkel
Peer reviewed
Author
Willis, Megan; Lannuzel, Delphine; Else, Brent; Angot, Helene; Campbell, Karley; Delille, Bruno; Hayashida, Hakase; Lizotte, Martine; Loose, Bruce; Meiners, Klaus; Miller, Lisa; Moreau, Sebastien; Nomura, Daiki; Prytherch, John; Schmale, Julia; Steiner, Nadja; Tedesco, Letizia; Thomas, Jennie; Crabeck, OdileAbstract
Polar oceans and sea ice cover 15% of the Earth’s ocean surface, and the environment is changing rapidly at both
poles. Improving knowledge on the interactions between the atmospheric and oceanic realms in the polar
regions, a Surface Ocean–Lower Atmosphere Study (SOLAS) project key focus, is essential to understanding
the Earth system in the context of climate change. However, our ability to monitor the pace and magnitude of
changes in the polar regions and evaluate their impacts for the rest of the globe is limited by both remoteness
and sea-ice coverage. Sea ice not only supports biological activity and mediates gas and aerosol exchange but
can also hinder some in-situ and remote sensing observations. While satellite remote sensing provides the
baseline climate record for sea-ice properties and extent, these techniques cannot provide key variables
within and below sea ice. Recent robotics, modeling, and in-situ measurement advances have opened new
possibilities for understanding the ocean–sea ice–atmosphere system, but critical knowledge gaps remain.
Seasonal and long-term observations are clearly lacking across all variables and phases. Observational and
modeling efforts across the sea-ice, ocean, and atmospheric domains must be better linked to achieve
a system-level understanding of polar ocean and sea-ice environments. As polar oceans are warming and sea
ice is becoming thinner and more ephemeral than before, dramatic changes over a suite of physicochemical and
biogeochemical processes are expected, if not already underway.These changes in sea-ice and ocean conditions
will affect atmospheric processes by modifying the production of aerosols, aerosol precursors, reactive
halogens and oxidants, and the exchange of greenhouse gases. Quantifying which processes will be enhanced
or reduced by climate change calls for tailored monitoring programs for high-latitude ocean environments. Open
questions in this coupled system will be best resolved by leveraging ongoing international and multidisciplinary
programs, such as efforts led by SOLAS, to link research across the ocean–sea ice–atmosphere interface.
Publisher
University of California PressCitation
Willis, Lannuzel, Else, Angot, Campbell, Delille, Hayashida, Lizotte, Loose, Meiners, Miller, Moreau, Nomura, Prytherch, Schmale, Steiner, Tedesco, Thomas. Polar oceans and sea ice in a changing climate. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene. 2023Metadata
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