The role of diurnal freeze-thaw cycles for summer melting on sea ice

• Applicant: Dr. Sascha Sebastian Willmes
• Subject Area: Oceanography
• Term: from 2007 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 44314667

Rate and strength of the decay of snow on sea ice both are subject to large hemispheric differences. Previous studies revealed through a combination of satellite data, modelling results and field measurements that diurnal freeze-thaw cycles are prevailing the summer surface processes on sea ice in the Antarctic, whereas strong and persistent snowmelt is characteristic in the Arctic. This project is designed to provide a comprehensive overview on the factors controlling the observed hemispheric contrasts in the seasonal evolution of snowmelt patterns. We will investigate the sensitivity of surface microwave features to specific processes in the snowmelt season and subsequently want to assess the potential to identify single stages of snowmelt and metamorphism from microwave satellite data. Data for the intended study are provided by the current project from a thermodynamic/emission modelling in both hemispheres.

• DFG Programme: Infrastructure Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1158: Infrastructure area - Antarctic Research with Comparative Investigations in Arctic Sea Ice Areas
• International Connection: Canada, Norway
• Participating Persons: Professor Dr. Christian Haas; Dr. Marcel Nicolaus