The role of sea ice in the carbon cycle of Polar Seas: 1D to 3D modelling

Sea ice participates actively in the biogeochemical cycle of carbon of Polar Oceans,
yet to which extent is not clear. We investigated the processes that govern sea ice carbon dy-
namics in Polar Regions through 1D to 3D modelling developments. First, we constrained
all major physical and biogeochemical processes with respect to CO2 dynamics (carbon-
ate chemistry, biological activity, ikaite (CaCO3•6H2O) precipitation and dissolution and
ocean-ice-air CO2 fluxes) in a one-dimensional sea ice model. According to our model, the
CO2 budget is driven by the CO2 uptake during ice growth and release by brine drainage,
whereas other processes such as brine-air CO2 fluxes, despite significant, are secondary.
Subsequently, based on these preliminary conclusions, we evaluated the role of
sea ice in the carbon dynamics of Polar Oceans by using an ocean-ice coupled Global Earth
System Model. Carbon dynamics (e.g. ocean-atmosphere CO2 fluxes) are driven by the
contribution of sea ice growth regions in the Arctic Ocean (mainly the Siberian coast) and
sea ice melt regions in the Southern Ocean (off the coast of Antarctica). In addition, the
production of deep waters is low in the Arctic Ocean but significant in the Southern Ocean.
Therefore, sea ice only contributes to the deep water export of carbon in the Southern Ocean.
The role of sea ice in the biogeochemical cycle of carbon is significant and its representation
by Global Earth System Models should be improved.