The future of Arctic sea-ice biogeochemistry and ice-associated ecosystems

[en] The Arctic sea-ice-scape is rapidly transforming. Increasing light penetration will initiate earlier seasonal primary production. This earlier growing season may be accompanied by an increase in ice algae and phytoplankton biomass, augmenting the emission of dimethylsulfide and capture of carbon dioxide. Secondary production may also increase on the shelves, although the loss of sea ice exacerbates the demise of sea-ice fauna, endemic fish and megafauna. Sea-ice loss may also deliver more methane to the atmosphere, but warmer ice may release fewer halogens, resulting in fewer ozone depletion events. The net changes in carbon drawdown are still highly uncertain. Despite large uncertainties in these assessments, we expect disruptive changes that warrant intensified long-term observations and modelling efforts.

Research center :

FOCUS - Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch - ULiège

Disciplines :

Earth sciences & physical geography

Author, co-author :

Lannuzel, Delphine

Tedesco, Letizia

van Leeuwe, Maria

Campbell, Karley

Flores, Hauke

Delille, Bruno ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO)

Miller, Lisa

Stefels, Jacqueline

Assmy, Philipp

Bowman, Jeff

More authors (24 more)

Language :

English

Title :

The future of Arctic sea-ice biogeochemistry and ice-associated ecosystems

Publication date :

27 October 2020

Journal title :

Nature Climate Change

ISSN :

1758-678X

eISSN :

1758-6798

Publisher :

Nature Publishing Group, United Kingdom

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

983-992

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 01 February 2021

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