Articles | Volume 14, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-127-2018
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-127-2018
Research article
 | 
21 Feb 2018
Research article |  | 21 Feb 2018

Observations of brine plumes below melting Arctic sea ice

Algot K. Peterson

Related subject area

Depth range: Surface | Approach: In situ Observations | Geographical range: Deep Seas: Arctic Ocean | Phenomena: Sea Ice
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A. Chmel, V. N. Smirnov, and I. B. Sheikin
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Cited articles

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Cohen, L., Hudson, S. R., Walden, V. P., Graham, R. M., and Granskog, M. A.: Meteorological conditions in a thinner Arctic sea ice regime from winter to summer during the Norwegian Young sea ice expedition (N-ICE2015), J. Geophys. Res., 122, 7235–7259, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JD026034, 2017. a, b, c
Cox, G. F. N. and Weeks, W. F.: Brine drainage and initial salt entrapment in sodium chloride ice, CRREL Research Report, CRREL, Hanover, NH, 1975. a, b
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Short summary
This study presents observations of brine descending from melting Arctic sea ice. The brine passed an under-ice turbulence instrument in plumes and was associated with very high heat fluxes. The salt flux indicates that the melting sea ice lost most of its salt content during the observations. The observations provide evidence of a desalination process not previously reported from drifting Arctic sea ice and is an important contribution to understanding ice–ocean interaction during melt.