The Arctic Ocean and the Nordic Seas are integral parts of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, and hence key regions for the global climate.

The perennial sea ice cover makes the Arctic Ocean distinct from subarctic oceans – the presence of ice, as well as ice formation and melt significantly shape the circulation and water masses of both the Arctic Ocean and the Nordic Seas, which form the Arctic Mediterranean north of the Greenland Scotland Ridge.

The reduction of the Arctic ice cover in the last decades has been one of the most prominent signals of global warming. With a continuation of the current rate of sea ice retreat, the Arctic Ocean might change from a permanent to a seasonally ice-covered ocean, more typical for subarctic seas. Our research focuses on understanding the physical ocean processes that shape the Arctic Ocean at present, and to monitor the ongoing changes in order to support prediction efforts of future climate and ecosystem development.

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