- Processes & Observations
- Earth System Modelling & Prediction
Research Programme
- Patricia Langhorne
University of Otago - View the full team
Project Lead
-
Budget
$200,000 -
Duration
July 2019-June 2021 -
Phase 2
Antarctic sea ice: Analysis
Targeted observation and process-informed modelling of Antarctic sea ice (TOPIMASI)
Antarctic sea ice plays a major role in the global climate system. Its presence maintains cold conditions that help sustain Antarctica’s ice sheets, and it affects the rate of global warming by changing heat uptake in the Southern Ocean. Antarctic sea ice has a significant influence on both the ocean and atmospheric components of the climate system, and sea ice extent is closely linked with weather systems over New Zealand.

This project builds on the work completed by the team in their Phase 1 Antarctic sea ice project.
While the rapid retreat of Arctic sea ice is alarming researchers worldwide, satellite observations show that, until 2016, sea ice extent had been increasing in the Antarctic. This behaviour is seemingly at odds with global warming. Since 2016 there has been a decrease in Antarctic sea ice – is this a reversal of the pattern, or natural variability?
Antarctic sea ice grows and recedes fastest at its margins. Ocean surface waves break up ice on the outer edges, while extremely cold water causes relatively thicker sea ice close to the continent. The first phase of this project involved field experiments on the inner and outer margins of Antarctic sea ice, including the first, fixed-wing aircraft, sea ice thickness survey in Antarctica. This showed surprisingly thick, freely moving, pack ice (more than 4m thick) in the SW Ross Sea. Waves in sea ice also behave in an unexpected way, forcing a revision of ice-ocean modelling.
We’re now focussed on completing our analysis, leading to a better understanding of Antarctic sea ice processes in the NZ Earth System Model (NZESM).
-
Fabien Montiel
University of Otago -
Vernon Squire
University of Otago -
Andrew Pauling
University of Otago -
Inga Smith
University of Otago -
Cecilia Bitz
University of Washington -
Greg Leonard
University of Otago -
Pat Wongpan
University of Otago -
David Dempsey
University of Auckland -
Ken Hughes
-
Craig Purdie
University of Otago -
Eamon Fraser
University of Otago -
Mike Williams
NIWA -
Natalie Robinson
NIWA -
Craig Stevens
NIWA -
Alena Malyarenko
University of Otago -
Stefan Jendersie
NIWA, University of Otago -
Wolfgang Rack
University of Canterbury -
Gemma Brett
University of Canterbury -
Dan Price
University of Canterbury -
Christian Haas
Alfred Wegener Institute -
Andy Mahoney
Geophysical Institute -
Tim Haskell
Callaghan Innovation Ltd -
Patricia Langhorne
University of Otago