The influence of ocean waves on Antarctic sea-ice albedo and seasonal melting, and potential coupled physical and biological feedbacks

Abstract

Identifying the full suite of processes that drive the melting of Antarctic sea ice each summer is crucial to improving the currently-poor ability of contemporary models to accurately simulate the climatological retreat phase of the annual sea-ice cycle. This is critical to (1) understanding and attributing observed trends and recent abrupt changes in sea-ice coverage and (2) the more robust prediction of future sea-ice conditions and impacts. This paper identifies wave-driven processes that can accelerate the seasonal melting of sea ice both in the marginal ice zone (MIZ) and in open-water areas within the interior sea-ice zone (SIZ). It builds on the long-held view that seasonal Antarctic ..