Biogeochemistry of sea ice

Abstract

The frozen oceans and seas have held a wide-reaching fascination ever since the first explorers ventured into these realms. In the last 30 years or so, researchers have discovered that the ice is far from being a barren wasteland devoid of life. In contrast, sea ice supports a rich diversity and prolific life that is a vital part of the ecosystems over which the ice covers. The biogeochemical processes within sea ice have profound implications for the biogeochemistry of underlying waters and the ocean-atmosphere interactions. Our understanding of these processes is still hampered by the logistical difficulties in operating in such environments although this is being addressed in recent years as technology is developed that permits long-term programs of research to be established (see contributions in Thomas and Dieckmann, 2010).