Processes Driving Drift‐Ice Evolution and Its Interaction With the Oceanic and Atmospheric Boundary Layers

Abstract Sea ice is a crucial component of polar climate systems and is undergoing substantial changes in both hemispheres due to evolving climatic conditions. Arctic sea ice is transitioning from perennial to seasonal cover, and the Southern Ocean sea ice is exhibiting recent minima and enhanced seasonality. As global warming continues, the role of sea ice in polar climate systems is expected to transform further. However, many theoretical frameworks and parameterizations in current sea‐ice models are based on observations from an earlier era dominated by thicker multi‐year ice. Here, we synthesize the physical processes governing the dynamics and thermodynamics of drift ice—the mobile pack ice—and its coupling with the atmospheric and oceanic boundary layers. Our goal is to provide a coherent theoretical framework of the sea‐ice evolution equations and to summarize parameterizations of sub‐grid processes used across models of varying complexity. These include representations of momentum and scalar fluxes, ice‐thickness distribution and redistribution, snow and melt‐pond processes, wave–ice interactions, and physical–biogeochemical feedbacks. We also examine how sea ice impacts ocean stratification and mixing, as well as the atmospheric boundary layer and clouds. Finally, we highlight recent observational findings and outline priorities for improving the representation of drift‐ice processes, particularly in light of the changing climate and ice state.

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Publication Details

Journal
Reviews of Geophysics
Published
2026-03-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1029/2024rg000874
Primary Topic
Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Processes Driving Drift‐Ice Evolution and Its Interaction With the Oceanic and Atmospheric Boundary Layers

Pedro Duarte, Felix Pithan, Jari Haapala, Martin Vancoppenolle et al.
Reviews of Geophysics
Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics
article

Processes Driving Drift‐Ice Evolution and Its Interaction With the Oceanic and Atmospheric Boundary Layers

Pedro Duarte, Felix Pithan, Jari Haapala, Martin Vancoppenolle, Virginie Guémas, Roberta Pirazzini, Petteri Uotila, Letizia Tedesco, Ilker Fer, Morven Muilwijk, Ioanna Merkouriadi, Polona Itkin, Robinson Hordoir, Igor Polyakov, Tore Hattermann, Doroteaciro Iovino, Marcello Vichi, Annette Rinke, Timo Vihma, Mats A. Granskog
article en

Abstract

Abstract Sea ice is a crucial component of polar climate systems and is undergoing substantial changes in both hemispheres due to evolving climatic conditions. Arctic sea ice is transitioning from perennial to seasonal cover, and the Southern Ocean sea ice is exhibiting recent minima and enhanced seasonality. As global warming continues, the role of sea ice in polar climate systems is expected to transform further. However, many theoretical frameworks and parameterizations in current sea‐ice models are based on observations from an earlier era dominated by thicker multi‐year ice. Here, we synthesize the physical processes governing the dynamics and thermodynamics of drift ice—the mobile pack ice—and its coupling with the atmospheric and oceanic boundary layers. Our goal is to provide a coherent theoretical framework of the sea‐ice evolution equations and to summarize parameterizations of sub‐grid processes used across models of varying complexity. These include representations of momentum and scalar fluxes, ice‐thickness distribution and redistribution, snow and melt‐pond processes, wave–ice interactions, and physical–biogeochemical feedbacks. We also examine how sea ice impacts ocean stratification and mixing, as well as the atmospheric boundary layer and clouds. Finally, we highlight recent observational findings and outline priorities for improving the representation of drift‐ice processes, particularly in light of the changing climate and ice state.

Reviews of GeophysicsVol. 64(1)
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (DE), Finnish Meteorological Institute (FI), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), University of Helsinki (FI), University of Alaska Fairbanks (US), University of Cape Town (ZA), Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research (NO), Finnish Environment Institute (FI), Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (NO), CMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (IT), Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat : Expérimentations et Approches Numériques (FR), Institute for Advanced Study (DE), University of Bergen (NO), UiT The Arctic University of Norway (NO), Norwegian Polar Institute (NO)
Climate action, Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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