Researchers at NERSC developed a method to track the evolution of multi-year ice more reliably in our sea-ice model neXtSIM. 

Do you know how sea ice grows during winter in the Arctic? This is what a recent study led by Guillaume Boutin at the Nansen Center investigates, focusing on how cracks in the sea-ice cover impact sea-ice growth, using our unique sea-ice model neXtSIM.

Researchers from NERSC and colleagues in France, Germany, and Mali have improved how to simulate sea-ice movement in the Arctic. Their sea-ice model neXtSIM with a new and unique rheology is very good at producing accurate sea-ice forecasts and can possibly enhance climate predictions. 

Sea ice in the Arctic. Photo: Espen Storheim/Nansen Center

A new study led by Jonathan Rheinlænder at the Nansen Center investigates if the sea-ice model neXtSIM can recreate an unusual breakup event in the Arctic to find out what caused it.

People have been using the Arctic Ocean for over a century, mainly for shipping goods between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. The northern passages come with dangers though – sea ice poses a significant threat to shipping and other marine activities. In the past decades, technological advances have made it safer to cross these waters, but the ocean and sea-ice conditions in the Arctic remain challenging. A recent study led by Anton Korosov at the Nansen Center is contributing to increase safe navigation in the Arctic.

Einar Ólason takes over the co-lead of the collaborative programme "Arctic", one of four core activities of the European Climate Research Alliance (ECRA). He supersedes Lars Henrik Smedsrud (GFI/UiB, UNIS, Bjerknes Centre), who held that position since 2014.

What is the ECRA?