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From Bright Windows to Dark Spots: The Evolution of Melt Pond Optical Properties during Refreezing
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  • Philipp Anhaus,
  • Christian Katlein,
  • Marcel Nicolaus,
  • Mario Hoppmann,
  • Christian Haas
Philipp Anhaus
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Christian Katlein
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
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Marcel Nicolaus
Alfred Wegener Institute, Alfred Wegener Institute
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Mario Hoppmann
AWI, Germany, AWI, Germany
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Christian Haas
AWI, AWI
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Abstract

The evolution of melt ponds on Arctic sea ice has a large impact on the surface energy balance and the ice-associated ecosystem. Melt ponds are considered as bright windows to the ocean, because they transmit more solar radiation into the ocean than bare ice, also during freeze-up. Here we present results from under-ice radiation measurements close to the North Pole during summer 2018 using a remotely operated vehicle in combination with ice and snow measurements. Our results reveal that light transmittance of melt ponds is lower compared to bare ice once covered by the first snow. Results from a radiative transfer model suggest that refrozen melt ponds with a snow cover (> 0.04 m) lead to lower light transmittance than adjacent bare ice. This has implications on autumn ecosystem activity and thermodynamical ice growth, because it reduces the solar heat input to the Arctic Ocean in September by >50%.
16 Dec 2021Published in Geophysical Research Letters volume 48 issue 23. 10.1029/2021GL095369