Articles | Volume 13, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-775-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-775-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
05 Mar 2019
Research article |
| 05 Mar 2019
| 05 Mar 2019
Physical and optical characteristics of heavily melted “rotten” Arctic sea ice
Carie M. Frantz
Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of
Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah 84403, USA
Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of
Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
Samuel M. Farley
Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of
Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
Shelly Carpenter
Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of
Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
Ross Lieblappen
Department of Science, Vermont Technical College, Randolph, VT 05061, USA
US Army Engineer Research Development Center – Cold Regions Research
and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, New Hampshire 39180, USA
Zoe Courville
US Army Engineer Research Development Center – Cold Regions Research
and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, New Hampshire 39180, USA
Mónica V. Orellana
Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of
Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
Karen Junge
Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of
Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
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Cited
27 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Study on freezing separation process through observing microstructure of NaCl solution ice H. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2024.129674
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- Under-Ice Light Field in the Western Arctic Ocean During Late Summer G. Veyssière et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.643737
- Investigation into the geometry and distribution of oil inclusions in sea ice using non-destructive X-ray microtomography and its implications for remote sensing and mitigation potential D. Desmond et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112996
- Seasonal evolution of granular and columnar sea ice pore microstructure and pore network connectivity M. Oggier & H. Eicken https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2022.1
- Melt Pond Nutrient Dynamics and Their Relationship With Melt Pond Bottom Ice in the Central Arctic Ocean R. Akino et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JC022018
- Modeled variations in the inherent optical properties of summer Arctic ice and their effects on the radiation budget: a case based on ice cores from 2008 to 2016 M. Yu et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-273-2024
- Unveiling the dynamics of ice crystal growth and evolution in solidifying seawater X. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2025.119207
- Characteristics of late summer Arctic brash sea ice and its melting effect on the surface-water biogeochemistry of the Chukchi Shelf and Canada Basin R. Akino et al. https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2023.00094
- Seasonal evolution of brackish ice microstructure during growth and decay processes M. Yu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104740
- Flexural and compressive strength of the landfast sea ice in the Prydz Bay, East Antarctic Q. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1941-2022
- A Model of Microwave Emission from Mouth Regions of Arctic Rivers Providing for Radiometer Pixel Land Contamination V. Tikhonov et al. https://doi.org/10.31857/S0205961424030026
- Evolution of the microstructure and reflectance of the surface scattering layer on melting, level Arctic sea ice A. Macfarlane et al. https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2022.00103
- Spatiotemporal variability in the diffuse attenuation coefficient of sea ice Z. Xu et al. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.506144
- Experimental Study on the Variation Pattern of Saline Ice Microstructure with Temperature H. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17233343
- Growth rate dependence of the permeability and percolation threshold of young sea ice S. Maus https://doi.org/10.1039/D4FD00172A
- Satellite image processing in the circumpolar north: Understanding climate crisis by predicting sea ice extent in the arctic I. Namir et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2025.101797
- Optical properties of ice in a shallow Chinese lake (Hanzhang) with consequent impacts on primary production T. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177512
- A significant change in sea ice diffuse attenuation coefficient with temperature and its implications for the Arctic Ocean Y. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.12432
- Physical and Biogeochemical Properties of Rotten East Antarctic Summer Sea Ice M. Corkill et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JC018875
- A Model of Microwave Emission from Mouth Regions of Arctic Rivers Providing for Radiometer Pixel Land Contamination V. Tikhonov et al. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433824700981
- Sea-floor and sea-ice conditions in the western Weddell Sea, Antarctica, around the wreck of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Endurance J. Dowdeswell et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102020000103
- Research on ultrasonic-based investigation of mechanical properties of ice X. Chang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-021-1890-3
- Microbial Ecology of Rotten Sea Ice: Implications for Arctic Carbon Cycling with Global Warming C. Frantz et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14020482
- Experimental study on flexural strength and effective elastic modulus of granular ice in the Bohai Sea, China Y. Xiu et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2022.970051
- Crude oil migration in sea-ice: Laboratory studies of constraints on oil mobilization and seasonal evolution M. Oggier et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2019.102924
- Features of the Intrinsic L-Band Radiation of the Gulf of Ob during the Freeze-Up Period V. Tikhonov et al. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433820090236
27 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Study on freezing separation process through observing microstructure of NaCl solution ice H. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2024.129674
- Impacts of air fraction increase on Arctic sea ice density, freeboard, and thickness estimation during the melt season E. Salganik et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1259-2025
- Under-Ice Light Field in the Western Arctic Ocean During Late Summer G. Veyssière et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.643737
- Investigation into the geometry and distribution of oil inclusions in sea ice using non-destructive X-ray microtomography and its implications for remote sensing and mitigation potential D. Desmond et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112996
- Seasonal evolution of granular and columnar sea ice pore microstructure and pore network connectivity M. Oggier & H. Eicken https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2022.1
- Melt Pond Nutrient Dynamics and Their Relationship With Melt Pond Bottom Ice in the Central Arctic Ocean R. Akino et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JC022018
- Modeled variations in the inherent optical properties of summer Arctic ice and their effects on the radiation budget: a case based on ice cores from 2008 to 2016 M. Yu et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-273-2024
- Unveiling the dynamics of ice crystal growth and evolution in solidifying seawater X. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2025.119207
- Characteristics of late summer Arctic brash sea ice and its melting effect on the surface-water biogeochemistry of the Chukchi Shelf and Canada Basin R. Akino et al. https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2023.00094
- Seasonal evolution of brackish ice microstructure during growth and decay processes M. Yu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104740
- Flexural and compressive strength of the landfast sea ice in the Prydz Bay, East Antarctic Q. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1941-2022
- A Model of Microwave Emission from Mouth Regions of Arctic Rivers Providing for Radiometer Pixel Land Contamination V. Tikhonov et al. https://doi.org/10.31857/S0205961424030026
- Evolution of the microstructure and reflectance of the surface scattering layer on melting, level Arctic sea ice A. Macfarlane et al. https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2022.00103
- Spatiotemporal variability in the diffuse attenuation coefficient of sea ice Z. Xu et al. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.506144
- Experimental Study on the Variation Pattern of Saline Ice Microstructure with Temperature H. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17233343
- Growth rate dependence of the permeability and percolation threshold of young sea ice S. Maus https://doi.org/10.1039/D4FD00172A
- Satellite image processing in the circumpolar north: Understanding climate crisis by predicting sea ice extent in the arctic I. Namir et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2025.101797
- Optical properties of ice in a shallow Chinese lake (Hanzhang) with consequent impacts on primary production T. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177512
- A significant change in sea ice diffuse attenuation coefficient with temperature and its implications for the Arctic Ocean Y. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.12432
- Physical and Biogeochemical Properties of Rotten East Antarctic Summer Sea Ice M. Corkill et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JC018875
- A Model of Microwave Emission from Mouth Regions of Arctic Rivers Providing for Radiometer Pixel Land Contamination V. Tikhonov et al. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433824700981
- Sea-floor and sea-ice conditions in the western Weddell Sea, Antarctica, around the wreck of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Endurance J. Dowdeswell et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102020000103
- Research on ultrasonic-based investigation of mechanical properties of ice X. Chang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-021-1890-3
- Microbial Ecology of Rotten Sea Ice: Implications for Arctic Carbon Cycling with Global Warming C. Frantz et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14020482
- Experimental study on flexural strength and effective elastic modulus of granular ice in the Bohai Sea, China Y. Xiu et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2022.970051
- Crude oil migration in sea-ice: Laboratory studies of constraints on oil mobilization and seasonal evolution M. Oggier et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2019.102924
- Features of the Intrinsic L-Band Radiation of the Gulf of Ob during the Freeze-Up Period V. Tikhonov et al. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433820090236
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Latest update: 09 Jun 2026
Short summary
This paper provides a characterization of the physical and optical properties of "rotten" Arctic sea ice collected in two field seasons from off the coast of Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska. Rotten ice is physically and optically distinct when compared to ice from earlier in the melt season. It is marked by large connected pores, has lost most of its brine content, and scatters more light. This fragile, permeable ice type may become increasingly important in a warming Arctic.
This paper provides a characterization of the physical and optical properties of "rotten" Arctic...
