It is truly the last look at the CryoSat-2/SMOS (CS2SMOS). In October we will continue with CryoSat-2/Sentinel-3/SMOS (CS3SMOS) in the #Arctic. CS3SMOS will also be generated for #Antarctic #seaice.

Urgh, that looks unpleasant. I could well use some of this water here. Our garden is already in need of watering since March due to "exceptional draught"

map: UFZ Drought Monitor / Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research.

Happy launch day anniversary 🥳

Btw, any chance that @esa_cryosat moves over here?

I could go on and on with this. There are so many logistical challenges that I don't think this project will ever be applied on the large scale in the central Arctic. I only see possibilities for to apply this locally, e.g. strengthen regions where sea ice is used for travelling.

The test on landfast sea ice is also wildy optimistic. Actual drift ice has a lot more topography, and the affected area will be smaller. They will also loose a lot of these pumps due to sea ice deformation.

This reseeding will also be needed mostly in the Russian exclusive economic zone. Anyone thinks it is likely that there will be a permission to visit this area with > 100000 autonomous vehicles every year?

The entire concept seems to be completely oblivous of the fact that sea ice does not stay in one place. A good portion of it ends up in the North Atlantic where it will melt no matter how thick it is. This means constant reseeding of 100`000s of square kilometers within months only.

They now exist.

Marine biogeochemistry
go.bsky.app/TK79r4w

Polar ocean
go.bsky.app/851nQgx

Physical oceanography
go.bsky.app/Eb6xX19

Sea level and coastal erosion
go.bsky.app/B6spBdu

I can see very localized benefit where sea ice is used for transportation etc. But "saving sea ice" requires deploying millions of these pumps every winter for decades mainly in the Russian exclusive economic zone. Nothing but a pipe dream.