The Cryosphere
The Cryosphere
TC
Articles | Volume 20, issue 9
Articles | Volume 20, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5491-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5491-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 20, issue 9
Research article
 | 
25 Sep 2026
Research article |  | 25 Sep 2026

Variability of internal snow properties over Antarctic late summer sea ice on different spatial scales

Daria Paul, Danu Caus, Paul Keil, Christopher Kadow, and Stefanie Arndt

Data sets

Snow stratigraphy measurements at ice stations during POLARSTERN cruise PS118 S. Arndt https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.929010

Snow stratigraphy measurements at ice stations during RV POLARSTERN cruise PS111 S. Arndt https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.945858

Snow stratigraphy measurements at ice stations during RV POLARSTERN cruise PS124 C. Arndt and C. Haas https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.945857

SnowMicroPen (SMP) force profiles collected during RV POLARSTERN cruise PS111 S. Arndt https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.945787

SnowMicroPen (SMP) force profiles collected during RV POLARSTERN cruise PS118 C. Arndt and C. Haas https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.945791

SnowMicroPen (SMP) force profiles collected during RV POLARSTERN cruise PS124 C. Arndt and C. Haas https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.945875

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Short summary
We studied how snow and its properties vary across Antarctic sea ice using detailed field measurements combined with machine learning methods. We found that differences between ice types are mainly due to how snow layers are arranged rather than their basic properties. Snow changes over short distances, meaning single measurements often miss this complexity. Capturing this variability is key to improving climate models and satellite estimates.
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