Snow in the changing sea-ice systems

Melinda Webster (), Sebastian Gerland, Marika Holland, Elizabeth Hunke, Ron Kwok, Olivier Lecomte, Robert Massom, Don Perovich and Matthew Sturm
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Melinda Webster: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Sebastian Gerland: Norwegian Polar Institute
Marika Holland: National Center for Atmospheric Research
Elizabeth Hunke: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Ron Kwok: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Olivier Lecomte: Université Catholique de Louvain
Robert Massom: Australian Antarctic Division and Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre
Don Perovich: Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College
Matthew Sturm: University of Alaska Fairbanks

Nature Climate Change, 2018, vol. 8, issue 11, 946-953

Abstract: Abstract Snow is the most reflective, and also the most insulative, natural material on Earth. Consequently, it is an integral part of the sea-ice and climate systems. However, the spatial and temporal heterogeneities of snow pose challenges for observing, understanding and modelling those systems under anthropogenic warming. Here, we survey the snow–ice system, then provide recommendations for overcoming present challenges. These include: collecting process-oriented observations for model diagnostics and understanding snow–ice feedbacks, and improving our remote sensing capabilities of snow for monitoring large-scale changes in snow on sea ice. These efforts could be achieved through stronger coordination between the observational, remote sensing and modelling communities, and would pay dividends through distinct improvements in predictions of polar environments.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-018-0286-7

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