Data description paper 20 Nov 2020
Data description paper | 20 Nov 2020
High-resolution mapping of circum-Antarctic landfast sea ice distribution, 2000–2018
Alexander D. Fraser et al.
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Kazuya Kusahara, Daisuke Hirano, Masakazu Fujii, Alexander D. Fraser, and Takeshi Tamura
The Cryosphere, 15, 1697–1717, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1697-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1697-2021, 2021
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We used an ocean–sea ice–ice shelf model with a 2–3 km horizontal resolution to investigate ocean–ice shelf/glacier interactions in Lützow-Holm Bay, East Antarctica. The numerical model reproduced the observed warm water intrusion along the deep trough in the bay. We examined in detail (1) water mass changes between the upper continental slope and shelf regions and (2) the fast-ice role in the ocean conditions and basal melting at the Shirase Glacier tongue.
Bruce L. Greaves, Andrew T. Davidson, Alexander D. Fraser, John P. McKinlay, Andrew Martin, Andrew McMinn, and Simon W. Wright
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We observed that variation in the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) over 11 years showed a relationship with the species composition of hard-shelled phytoplankton in the seasonal ice zone (SIZ) of the Southern Ocean. Phytoplankton in the SIZ are productive during the southern spring and summer when the area is ice-free, with production feeding most Antarctic life. The SAM is known to be increasing with climate change, and changes in phytoplankton in the SIZ may have implications for higher life forms.
Alexander D. Fraser, Robert A. Massom, Mark S. Handcock, Phillip Reid, Kay I. Ohshima, Marilyn N. Raphael, Jessica Cartwright, Andrew R. Klekociuk, Zhaohui Wang, and Richard Porter-Smith
The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2021-121, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2021-121, 2021
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Landfast ice is sea ice that remains stationary by attaching to Antarctica’s coastline and grounded icebergs. Although a variable feature, landfast ice exerts influence on key coastal processes involving pack ice, the ice sheet, ocean and atmosphere, and is of ecological importance. We present a first analysis of change in landfast-ice over an 18 y period, and quantify trends (−0.19 ± 0.18 %/year). This analysis forms a reference of landfast ice extent and variability for use in other studies.
Thomas Krumpen, Luisa von Albedyll, Helge F. Goessling, Stefan Hendricks, Bennet Juhls, Gunnar Spreen, Sascha Willmes, H. Jakob Belter, Klaus Dethloff, Christian Haas, Lars Kaleschke, Christian Katlein, Xiangshan Tian-Kunze, Robert Ricker, Philip Rostosky, Janna Rueckert, Suman Singha, and Julia Sokolova
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In this manuscript we make use of satellite data records collected along the MOSAiC drift to categorize the different ice conditions that shaped and characterized the floe and surroundings from the beginning until the end of the expedition. A comparison with previous years is made whenever possible. The aim of this analysis is to provide a basis and reference for subsequent research in the six main research areas of MOSAiC: atmosphere, ocean, sea ice, biogeochemistry, remote sensing and ecology.
Kazuya Kusahara, Daisuke Hirano, Masakazu Fujii, Alexander D. Fraser, and Takeshi Tamura
The Cryosphere, 15, 1697–1717, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1697-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1697-2021, 2021
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We used an ocean–sea ice–ice shelf model with a 2–3 km horizontal resolution to investigate ocean–ice shelf/glacier interactions in Lützow-Holm Bay, East Antarctica. The numerical model reproduced the observed warm water intrusion along the deep trough in the bay. We examined in detail (1) water mass changes between the upper continental slope and shelf regions and (2) the fast-ice role in the ocean conditions and basal melting at the Shirase Glacier tongue.
Jessica Cartwright and Alexander D. Fraser
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2021-92, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2021-92, 2021
Preprint under review for ESSD
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Bruce L. Greaves, Andrew T. Davidson, Alexander D. Fraser, John P. McKinlay, Andrew Martin, Andrew McMinn, and Simon W. Wright
Biogeosciences, 17, 3815–3835, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-3815-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-3815-2020, 2020
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We observed that variation in the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) over 11 years showed a relationship with the species composition of hard-shelled phytoplankton in the seasonal ice zone (SIZ) of the Southern Ocean. Phytoplankton in the SIZ are productive during the southern spring and summer when the area is ice-free, with production feeding most Antarctic life. The SAM is known to be increasing with climate change, and changes in phytoplankton in the SIZ may have implications for higher life forms.
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This study uses reflected GPS signals to measure ice at the South Pole itself for the first time. These measurements are essential to understand the interaction of the ice with the Earth’s physical systems. Orbital constraints mean that satellites are usually unable to measure in the vicinity of the South Pole itself. This is overcome here by using data obtained by UK TechDemoSat-1. Data are processed to obtain the height of glacial ice across the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets.
Daiki Nomura, Mats A. Granskog, Agneta Fransson, Melissa Chierici, Anna Silyakova, Kay I. Ohshima, Lana Cohen, Bruno Delille, Stephen R. Hudson, and Gerhard S. Dieckmann
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Andreas Preußer, Günther Heinemann, Sascha Willmes, and Stephan Paul
The Cryosphere, 10, 3021–3042, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-3021-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-3021-2016, 2016
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We present spatial and temporal characteristics of 17 Arctic polynya regions. By using an energy balance model, daily thin-ice thickness distributions are derived from TIR satellite and atmospheric reanalysis data. All polynyas combined yield an average ice production of about 1811 km3 per winter. Interestingly, we find distinct regional differences in calculated trends over the last 13 years. Finally, we set a special focus on the Laptev Sea region and its relation to the Transpolar Drift.
Oliver Gutjahr, Günther Heinemann, Andreas Preußer, Sascha Willmes, and Clemens Drüe
The Cryosphere, 10, 2999–3019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2999-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2999-2016, 2016
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We estimated the formation of new sea ice within polynyas in the Laptev Sea (Siberia) with the regional climate model COSMO-CLM at 5 km horizontal resolution. Fractional sea ice and the representation of thin ice is often neglected in atmospheric models. Our study demonstrates, however, that the way thin ice in polynyas is represented in the model considerably affects the amount of newly formed sea-ice and the air–ice–ocean heat flux. Both processes impact the Arctic sea-ice budget.
S. Paul, S. Willmes, and G. Heinemann
The Cryosphere, 9, 2027–2041, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-2027-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-2027-2015, 2015
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We established a 13-year-long MODIS-derived thin-ice thickness data set from which we derived information about polynya dynamics in the southern Weddell Sea. In contrast to other studies, we do not focus on a single region but instead discuss polynya dynamics for the complete coastal area. The higher spatial resolution of MODIS compared to passive-microwave sensors enables us to resolve even very narrow coastal polynyas that would remain otherwise undetected.
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Short summary
Landfast ice, or
fast ice, is a form of sea ice which is mechanically fastened to stationary parts of the coast. Long-term and accurate knowledge of its extent around Antarctica is critical for understanding a number of important Antarctic coastal processes, yet no accurate, large-scale, long-term dataset of its extent has been available. We address this data gap with this new dataset compiled from satellite imagery, containing high-resolution maps of Antarctic fast ice from 2000 to 2018.
Landfast ice, or
fast ice, is a form of sea ice which is mechanically fastened to stationary...