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Better forecasts for sea ice under climate change
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news74962.html[font face=Serif][font size=5]Better forecasts for sea ice under climate change[/font]
Wednesday, 26 November 2014
[font size=3]University of Adelaide-led research will help pinpoint the impact of waves on sea ice, which is vulnerable to climate change, particularly in the Arctic where it is rapidly retreating.
…
"Sea ice covering the ocean surface is white and efficiently reflects the sun's rays, keeping the oceans cool. When it melts it reveals the dark ocean beneath, which absorbs the solar radiation and becomes warmer - and that, of course, further weakens the ice.
"Waves break up the ice so that it melts more easily. In addition, exposing larger areas of the ocean surface provides a larger area for the wind to generate waves, which further promotes the breaking."
To date, however, climate models haven't included the impact of waves on sea ice.
…[/font][/font]
Wednesday, 26 November 2014
[font size=3]University of Adelaide-led research will help pinpoint the impact of waves on sea ice, which is vulnerable to climate change, particularly in the Arctic where it is rapidly retreating.
…
"Sea ice covering the ocean surface is white and efficiently reflects the sun's rays, keeping the oceans cool. When it melts it reveals the dark ocean beneath, which absorbs the solar radiation and becomes warmer - and that, of course, further weakens the ice.
"Waves break up the ice so that it melts more easily. In addition, exposing larger areas of the ocean surface provides a larger area for the wind to generate waves, which further promotes the breaking."
To date, however, climate models haven't included the impact of waves on sea ice.
…[/font][/font]