Scientists just discovered why Arctic sea ice moves so strangely
Researchers have discovered that collisions between individual ice floes are a primary factor in how Arctic sea ice moves. This finding helps explain why existing wind-based models often fail to accurately predict the speed and distribution of sea ice as the region warms.
Why it matters
Improving the accuracy of sea ice movement models is critical for climate forecasting and understanding the environmental impacts of a warming Arctic.
Arctic sea ice does not always move the way wind alone would predict. New research led by UC Riverside suggests that a simple but overlooked process may help explain the difference: individual pieces of ice repeatedly collide with one another.
The findings could eventually help scientists improve forecasts of how sea ice moves across the Arctic as the region continues to warm.
The study, published in Physical Review Letters , was led by Bryan Shaddy, formerly a UC Riverside undergraduate and now at the University of Southern California, along with UCR materials scientist Alex Greaney and Bhargav Rallabandi, associate professor of mechanical engineering at UCR.
Rather than forming one unbroken sheet, Arctic sea ice is divided into separate slabs known as floes. These pieces can range from just several meters across to several kilometers wide.
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