NASA Mission Uncovers Surprising Causes of Arctic Sea Ice Melt
It’s not just rising air and water temperatures that are contributing to the decline of Arctic sea ice. A recent NASA mission has revealed that factors such as clouds, aerosols, and the surface properties of the ice itself also play a significant role in the melting process.
The ARCSIX (Arctic Radiation Cloud Aerosol Surface Interaction Experiment) mission, led by NASA, involves flying two aircraft equipped with scientific instruments over the Arctic Ocean north of Greenland to study these interactions. The goal is to measure the evolution of the sea ice pack over an entire summer and determine which factors are most influential in the melting process.
Scientists participating in the mission are focused on understanding the surface radiation budget, which is the energy interacting with the ice and the atmosphere. By studying the impact of different factors such as ridges, melt ponds, pollutants, clouds, and aerosols, researchers hope to gain valuable insights into the complex processes driving Arctic sea ice melt.
The research team, consisting of about 75 scientists, instrument operators, and flight crew, is conducting two deployments based out of Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland. The first deployment, which took place in May and June, aimed to document the start of the ice melt season, while the second deployment scheduled for July and August will monitor late summer conditions and the beginning of the freeze-up period.
During the flights, NASA’s P-3 Orion aircraft will collect data on surface properties of the ice and energy radiating off it, while the Gulfstream III aircraft will observe properties of the clouds and atmosphere above the ice. The team will also compare their findings with data collected by satellite instruments to enhance our understanding of Arctic sea ice dynamics.
The mission’s findings will not only contribute to the scientific community’s knowledge of the Arctic environment but also help improve satellite-based remote sensing capabilities. By studying the interactions between clouds, aerosols, and sea ice in the Arctic, researchers hope to gain valuable insights into the changing dynamics of this critical region.
Overall, the ARCSIX mission represents a significant step forward in our understanding of the complex processes driving Arctic sea ice melt and the factors contributing to the decline of this vital ecosystem.
By Kate Ramsayer
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.