Smoother sea ice with fewer pressure ridges in a more dynamic Arctic

Thomas Krumpen (), Luisa Albedyll, H. Jakob Bünger, Giulia Castellani, Jörg Hartmann, Veit Helm, Stefan Hendricks, Nils Hutter, Jack C. Landy, Simeon Lisovski, Christof Lüpkes, Jan Rohde, Mira Suhrhoff and Christian Haas
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Thomas Krumpen: Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Luisa Albedyll: Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
H. Jakob Bünger: Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Giulia Castellani: Fram Centre
Jörg Hartmann: Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Veit Helm: Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Stefan Hendricks: Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Nils Hutter: Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Jack C. Landy: UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Simeon Lisovski: Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Christof Lüpkes: Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Jan Rohde: Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Mira Suhrhoff: Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Christian Haas: Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research

Nature Climate Change, 2025, vol. 15, issue 1, 66-72

Abstract: Abstract Pressure ridges, formed by sea ice deformation, affect momentum transfer in the Arctic Ocean and support a larger biomass than the surrounding-level ice. Although trends in Arctic sea ice thickness and concentration are well documented, changes in ridge morphology remain unclear. This study provides airborne-based evidence of a shift towards a smoother ice surface, with fewer pressure ridges and reduced surface drag, attributed to the loss of old ice. Furthermore, an increase in seasonal ice cover enhances overall deformation in the Arctic and acts as a negative feedback mechanism on pan-Arctic ridge morphology: the greater the proportion of seasonal ice, the higher the pan-Arctic mean ridge rate, dampening an overall decline in ridges with age. While thinner and less frequent ridges benefit industries such as shipping, these changes are likely to have profound impacts on the energy and mass balance and the ecosystem of the Arctic Ocean.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-02199-5

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