Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-477
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-477
05 Sep 2025
 | 05 Sep 2025
Status: this preprint is currently under review for the journal ESSD.

A Climate Data Record of Sea Ice Age Using Lagrangian Advection of a Triangular Mesh

Anton Korosov, Léo Edel, Heather Regan, Thomas Lavergne, Emily Jane Down, and Signe Aaboe

Abstract. We present LM-SIAge, a new Climate Data Record (CDR) of Arctic sea ice age spanning the period from 1991 to 2024. The dataset is based on a novel Lagrangian advection scheme applied to a triangular mesh, which conserves sea ice age fractions and reduces numerical diffusion compared to the previous Eulerian approach. LM-SIAge is derived from satellite observations of sea ice concentration and drift, and represents fractional age classes per grid cell. The record captures the spatial and temporal evolution of first- to sixth-year ice, including uncertainty estimates that account for both sea ice concentration and drift uncertainties.

We compare LM-SIAge with existing products from NSIDC and C3S, finding consistent large-scale trends—such as the decline of older ice—but also identifying systematic differences. Trend analysis confirms a significant reduction in sea ice age and a general increase in the area of first-year ice. Validation with IABP buoys indicates good consistency, with most discrepancies occurring near the ice edge.

The LM-SIAge dataset improves the observational basis for Arctic monitoring and contributes to the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Essential Climate Variables. It is publicly available and suitable for climate studies, model evaluation, and data assimilation.

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Anton Korosov, Léo Edel, Heather Regan, Thomas Lavergne, Emily Jane Down, and Signe Aaboe

Status: open (until 12 Oct 2025)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
Anton Korosov, Léo Edel, Heather Regan, Thomas Lavergne, Emily Jane Down, and Signe Aaboe

Data sets

Arctic Sea Ice Age Climate Data Record Version 2.1.1 Anton Korosov and Léo Edel https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15773500

Model code and software

Sea ice age computation software, PySeaIceAge-2.1.1 Anton Korosov and Léo Edel https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16881687

Video supplement

Animation of the Arctic Sea Ice Age Climate Data Record Version 2.1 Anton Korosov https://youtube.com/shorts/h5MTsKuT8ic

Explanatory animations for the Arctic Sea Ice Age Climate Data Record Version 2.1 Anton Korosov https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16744295

Anton Korosov, Léo Edel, Heather Regan, Thomas Lavergne, Emily Jane Down, and Signe Aaboe
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Latest update: 06 Sep 2025
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Short summary
We present a new long-term record of Arctic sea ice age spanning from 1991 to 2024. Using satellite data and a new tracking method, it maps fractions of sea ice from first- to sixth-year and includes uncertainty estimates. The dataset shows a decline in older ice and more first-year ice, it agrees well with buoy data, and supports Arctic monitoring, climate research, navigation, and model evaluation.
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