Articles | Volume 19, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-6001-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-6001-2025
Research article
 | 
20 Nov 2025
Research article |  | 20 Nov 2025

Seasonal evolution of snow density and its impact on thermal regime of sea ice during the MOSAiC expedition

Yubing Cheng, Bin Cheng, Roberta Pirazzini, Amy R. Macfarlane, Timo Vihma, Wolfgang Dorn, Ruzica Dadic, Martin Schneebeli, Stefanie Arndt, and Annette Rinke

Data sets

The ERA5 global reanalysis (https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.adbb2d47) H. Hersbach et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.3803

Snow observations A. R. Macfarlane et al. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.935934

Temperature and wind data C. Cox et al. https://doi.org/10.18739/A2PV6B83F

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Short summary
We study snow density from the MOSAiC expedition. Several snow density schemes were tested and compared with observation. A thermodynamic ice model was employed to assess the impact of snow density and precipitation on the thermal regime of sea ice. The parameterized mean snow densities are consistent with observations. Increased snow density reduces snow and ice temperatures, promoting ice growth, while increased precipitation leads to warmer snow and ice temperatures and reduced ice thickness.
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