Abstract
Previous approaches to modify the surface albedo of Arctic ice have been
proposed to slow the rate of ice melt or to increase ice thickness.
(Seitz 2011, Desch 2018, Field 2018) Sea ice, glacial ice, and
ice-covered thermokarst lakes are all known to melt aided by surface
albedo feedback loops. In this process, melting of snow and/or the
formation of melt ponds on the surface of the ice causes a lowering of
surface albedo, which causes more absorption of sunlight, further
warming the ice and increasing the rate of melt. In this study on a
freshwater pond, we demonstrate the real-time dynamics of melting and a
reduction of ice melt rate by 26% via surface albedo modification.