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The Complete Annual Record of Sea Ice Volume Export Through Fram Strait as Observed by Satellite from 2010-2022.
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  • David Gareth Babb,
  • Sergei Kirillov,
  • Stephen E. L. Howell,
  • Jack Christopher Landy,
  • Isolde Glissenaar,
  • Julienne Stroeve,
  • Michael Brady,
  • Jens Kristian Ehn
David Gareth Babb
University of Manitoba

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Sergei Kirillov
Centre for Earth Observation Science
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Stephen E. L. Howell
Environment and Climate Change Canada
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Jack Christopher Landy
University of Tromsø - The Artic University of Norway
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Isolde Glissenaar
University of Bristol
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Julienne Stroeve
University of Manitoba
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Michael Brady
Environment and Climate Change Canada
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Jens Kristian Ehn
University of Manitoba
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Abstract

Fram Strait is the primary pathway for sea ice export from the Arctic Ocean, yet estimates of volume export are constrained by observations of ice thickness and drift. Using a new year-round CryoSat-2 ice thickness product we determine an average annual export of 1,712 ± 452 km^3 from 2011-2022. 15% of the Arctic Oceans sea ice volume is exported annually, while 3.2% of the volume lost during the melt season is exported. Comparing high- and low-resolution ice drift products reveals the latter underestimate export by 30%. Comparing volume export between 82°N and 79°N reveals a high melt rate of 1 cm d-1, reducing export by 53%. September sea ice volume declines by 286 km^3 for every 100 km^3 exported during summer, highlighting how export amplifies the ice-albedo feedback. Our estimates of volume export provide new insight into Fram Straits role as a sea ice sink and freshwater source.
22 Nov 2023Submitted to ESS Open Archive
27 Nov 2023Published in ESS Open Archive