PROJECT 6: Sea Ice

Broad-scale measurements of sea ice will be made during transits of sea ice areas by RSV Nuyina, with autonomous vehicles, and by satellite remote sensing. The RSV Nuyina will allow multi-disciplinary process studies to be carried out within the sea ice, targeting different sea-ice regimes and seasons. Long-term records from satellites and proxy data will be used to assess sea-ice change over multiple decades.

The key science questions for this project are:

  • How is the East Antarctic sea-ice environment varying and changing, and which processes are responsible for these changes?
  • How do sea-ice processes and change interact with and affect ice shelves in East Antarctica?
  • What are the effects of sea-ice change on primary productivity and biogeochemical processes in the Southern Ocean?

PROJECT LEADERS