Post #2790701

@Brad_Rosenheim@climatejustice.social A further thought on this. The average surface water salinity in the Southern Ocean is about 34.5 ppt, which depresses the freezing point by nearly 2°C. If a large flux of melt decreases the salinity by 1 or 2 ppt, as happens around the sea ice edge when it is retreating in Spring, this raises the freezing point by around 0.1°C. I think other factors, including atmospheric and ocean temperatures and winds, are likely to be much more important in controlling sea ice extent. Furthermore, any melt added to the surface water in summer will be mixed into the upper ~200 m of the ocean by autumn storms before it can have much effect on new sea ice growth.