Antarctic Sea Ice Processes and Climate (ASPeCt)

Established in 1996

ASPeCt is known for shipboard (volunteer) sea-ice observations. This is still a strong focus.

This website:

  • describes Antarctic sea-ice
  • delivers sea-ice observer protocols
  • links to up-to-date sea-ice science
  • coordinates ASPeCt meetings and projects
Key Questions

Key scientific questions

The ASPeCt programme aims to model Antarctic sea-ice in coupled atmosphere-ice-ocean models, calibrating Earth System models to Southern Ocean conditions, thereby improving short, medium and long-range forecasts of climate change, ecosystem function and weather.

Key scientific questions which must be answered to meet the objectives are:

  • What are the broad-scale time-varying distributions of the ice and snow-cover thickness, ice composition and other physical characteristics in the Antarctic sea ice zone?
  • What are the dominant processes of ice formation, modification, decay and transport which influence and determine ice-thickness, composition and distribution?
  • What is the role of coastal polynyas in determining total ice production, heat, salt and biogeochemical fluxes, and water mass modification?
  • What are the processes that control the ice-water interactions at the ice-edge, and their seasonal changes?
Steering Committee

ASPeCt Scientific Steering Group

Members of this group and others will eventually constitute the Science Steering Group and/or Working Groups of ASPeCt when the reorganization is complete.

Dr Steve Ackley (Co-Chair)
118 Castle Lane
San Antonio, TX 78213
USA
Ph +1 210 341 6556

Dr Marilyn Raphael (Co-Chair)
Department of Geography
1255 Bunche Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90095-152
USA
Ph +1 310 206 4590

Dr Christian Haas

Dr Petra Heil

Dr Elizabeth Hunke

Dr Ron Kwok

Dr Pat Langhorne

Dr Thorsten Markus

Dr Klaus Meiners

Dr Louise Newmann

Dr Marcel Nicolaus

Dr Kay Oshima

Dr Ted Maksym

Dr Sandra Schwegmann

Dr Sharon Stammerjohn

Dr Jean-Louis Tison

Dr Martin Vancoppenole

Dr Jeremy Wilkinson

Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference

ASPeCt’s Terms of Reference are:

  • Provide standardization of ice observing protocols, and core and ice station sampling.
  • Provide data archive for ship observations, ice thickness profiles, ice core properties, aerial photos.
  • Provide metadata directory to experiment data sets, buoy data.
  • Sponsor workshops and conference sessions on topics of interest.
  • Coordinate international collaboration on experiments.
  • Facilitate data exchanges and joint analyses
  • Collaborate with other groups (e.g AntClim21, SORP ) where such collaboration draws upon the expertise within ASPeCt.
  • Coordinate exchanges of data and ideas between observers and climate modellers with the aim of improving climate model simulations.
  • Provide expertise and consultation to SCAR, CliC, and WCRP on Antarctic sea ice.
Committee News

Committee News

ASPeCt’s Scientific Steering Group (SSG) hold workshops approximately every two years to report on research progress, present plans and promote coordination between national programs.

All scientists with an active interest in Antarctic sea ice research will be invited to participate in these meetings.

Next SSG Meeting: To be advised

COP 28 UN Climate Change Conference took place at the Expo City, Dubai, UAE, from 30 November until 12 December 2023.

The summit brings countries together to implement commitments made under the Paris Agreement and take collective action against climate change.

SCAR organised a range of events.

The side event 'Antarctic and Southern Ocean ecosystems are under severe threat from climate change impacts, such as sea ice loss, increasing temperatures and ocean acidification' gave an overview of Southern Ocean ecosystems, their global importance, and the role of sea ice in supporting their productivity and function.

The team described recent dramatic changes in Antarctic sea ice, ocean temperature and ongoing acidification, their impacts on these globally important ecosystems, and the action required to manage and safeguard against them.

Contacts: The Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS), the Marine Ecosystem Assessment for the Southern Ocean (MEASO), the Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics in the Southern Ocean (ICED) program, the SCAR Expert Groups on Biogeochemical Exchange Processes at Sea-Ice Interfaces (BEPSII) and Antarctic Sea Ice Processes and Climate (ASPeCt).

Acknowledgements

ASPeCt is a SCAR-sponsored Expert Group, sponsored by WCRP (World Climate Research Programme) and CliC (Climate and Cryosphere).

The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) is an organisation of the International Science Council (ISC).

SCAR logo blue transparentSCAR coordinates international scientific research in the Antarctic region including Southern Ocean.

By collaborating through national Antarctic programs, ASPeCt aims to broaden scientific understanding of the Antarctic sea-ice zone.

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