Light Absorption in Arctic Sea Ice: Chlorophyll and Black Carbon

Arctic sea ice extent has declined continuously for the past decade, owing partially to light absorption by black carbon (BC) and other impurities deposited on snow and the underlying pack. We present simulations for the contemporary period showing that the optical depth contributed by Arctic ice algal chlorophyll may be comparable during Boreal Spring to the corresponding values attributable to BC. The largest chlorophyll attenuation is obtained in the bottom layer, which supports pigment concentrations of about 300 to 1000 mg/m3 in the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk. However, chlorophyll concentrations for the ice interior in regions north of 75{deg} N and across the Canadian Archipelago are less than 0.1 micro g/m3. Freeboard and infiltration communities lead to intermediate levels of light removal. Since BC works its way downward from the atmospheric interface, there will be regions where it appropriates photosynthetic capability. Where ice thicknesses permit significant penetration through the pack column the ice algae may be crucial absorbers. We propose a continuous increase in relative chlorophyll activity and attenuation in the future, as biological activity becomes stronger in thin ice toward the center of the Arctic basin. A shift in relative importance of the two absorber types could occur as total BC mixing ratios are reduced because of environmental advocacy.