Abstract We examine the melting of sea ice versus freshwater ice in laboratory experiments and with one-dimensional model simulations. Our primary aim is to investigate the vertical partitioning of heat between thinning and internal phase changes. In agreement with our general understanding of the two ice types, we find that freshwater ice quickly starts thinning and then keeps a constant melt rate for constant external heat input. In contrast, sea ice starts thinning later but then thins faster than freshwater ice. This temporal evolution is caused by the substantial amount of heat that is used for internal phase changes in sea ice. Those internal phase changes give rise to a nonlinear temperature profile in the sea ice during the entire melting period, whereas freshwater ice quickly reaches its melting temperature throughout its entire thickness. Infrared imagery provides additional insights into the surface temperature of both ice types during melting. We find that, during melting, sea ice can have a mean surface temperature several tenths of a degree above 0°C because of meltwater-filled millimetre-scale dimples at the ice surface.

M. Wiese

P. Griewank

D. Notz

Annals of Glaciology

ANNALS OF GLACIOLOGY 在冰川学的选定方面发表原创科学文章和信件 - 对冰的研究。每一期的年鉴都是主题，集中在一个特定的主题上。国际冰川学会理事会欢迎冰川学界就主题问题提出的建议。一旦主题获得批准，理事会将任命一名副总编辑和一组科学编辑来处理论文的提交、同行评审和发表。

The Annals of Glaciology is an academic journal focused on the field of glaciology, publishing original scientific articles and letters related to the study of ice. Each issue of the journal revolves around a specific theme, and the International Glaciological Society Council welcomes suggestions from the glaciology community regarding these themes. Once a theme is approved, the Council appoints a deputy editor and a group of scientific editors to manage the submission, peer review, and publication of papers.

《Annals of Glaciology》是一本专注于冰川学领域的学术期刊，发表原创的科学文章和信件，涉及冰的研究。每一期的年鉴围绕一个特定主题展开，国际冰川学会理事会欢迎冰川学界对主题的建议。一旦主题获得批准，理事会将任命一名副总编辑和一组科学编辑，负责处理论文的提交、同行评审和发表。

Category	Quartile
地球科学	4
地球科学, 自然地理	4
地球科学, 地球科学综合	4

On the thermodynamics of melting sea ice versus melting freshwater ice

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY	2