Real Ice

Real Ice was formed in response to the decline in Arctic sea ice (~6cm/decade) which is having devastating impacts on Arctic communities now and is expected to accelerate the planet towards irreversible tipping points if blue ocean events start to occur. 

The role of sea ice is not only climatically important, but it is also central to the sustainability and prosperity of Arctic communities and local ecosystems.

While global greenhouse gas mitigation remains a priority, it may not be sufficient to limit warming to within the targets set out in the Paris Agreement. Research into climate interventions as a complementary strategy is therefore important to preserve Arctic environments. 

One such technique to slow the decline of Arctic sea ice is to use artificial ice thickening methods by pumping seawater on top of already existing ice during winter, where it will freeze in very cold air temperatures, which in turn reinforces natural ice growth processes. Production of thicker sea ice is crucial for maintaining melt-resilient multi-year ice. It is this method that Real Ice is researching in small scale field experiments, in collaboration with Arctic communities, particularly in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut.

Previous research has demonstrated that when suitable seawater pumping devices are used, ice thickness can be enhanced by up to 1 meter during a single winter season. Ice thickening has high potential to be beneficial to the communities and ecosystems that rely on it, whilst also providing additional time to adapt to the effects of climate change. Research into ice thickening also has capacity to be developed alongside the communities most impacted, ensuring respect for Indigenous Knowledge and consideration of environmental, social and ethical factors.

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