Sea Ice in the Earth System (Max Planck Research Group)
Our research group works towards a better understanding of sea-ice evolution within the changing climate of our Earth. Currently, we focus on three main research topics:
1. Internal structure of sea ice
We examine the temporal and spatial evolution of the internal structure of sea ice. This structure consists of a complicated mixture of solid fresh-water ice, liquid salty brine and gas inclusions. The relative fraction of these phases determines virtually all large-scale properties of sea ice. Nevertheless, it is still not possible to predict and to model the evolution of the different phases based on first principles. We therefore develop and use new measurement techniques to gain deeper insight into the interior structure of sea ice. Based on our group's experimental work in the field and in the laboratory, we develop novel numerical models that predict the evolution of the internal structure of sea ice.
2. Large-scale numerical models
We use large-scale coupled climate models to better understand the evolution of sea ice in a changing climate. In particular, we focus on the predictability of sea ice on seasonal to decadal scales. In addition, we are actively involved in the development of a novel sea-ice component for our institute's future Earth System Model ICON. Here we focus on improving the model's sea-ice thermodynamics and on developing an efficient numerical implementation for sea-ice dynamics on the model's triangular grid.
3. Air-Ice-Sea Interaction
During field and lab experiments, and with the help of numerical models, we examine the interaction of sea ice with the ocean and the atmosphere. At the moment, we focus on the heat exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere, and on the interaction of frost flowers with sea ice.
More Details...
...on our model-related activities can be found here.
...on our lab and field experiments can be found here.
...on the members of our group can be found here.
Funding
Our group forms a Max Planck Research Group. As such, we receive most of our funding directly from the Max Planck Society.
For a joint project with the Geophysical Institute of the University in Bergen/Norway, we receive additional funds through DAAD.