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Sea ice freshwater budget published in The Cryosphere

By Madison Smith | February 25, 2025

Published February 2025, this manuscript uses observations from the 2020 MOSAiC Expedition to compile the first full budget of sea ice freshwater sources and sinks over the summer season in the Arctic. Key findings include:

  • A relatively high fraction (58 %) is derived from surface melt
  • The magnitude and rate of local meltwater production are remarkably similar to those observed on the prior Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean (SHEBA) campaign
  • A relatively small fraction (10 %) of freshwater from melt remains in ponds
  • Most meltwater drains laterally and vertically to the ocean, with vertical drainage enabling storage of freshwater internally in the ice

The full manuscript is available at: https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-619-2025

Posted in Publications