Arctic Experiment Aims to Thicken Sea Ice in Nunavut
Real Ice, a climate-tech start-up funded by the UK government, is conducting an experiment in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, to thicken sea ice by pumping seawater onto the surface to refreeze. This initiative targets a 1-km² area and aims to mitigate the effects of climate change-induced ice thinning.
The experiment builds on a 2024-25 trial by the Centre for Climate Repair and Real Ice, which demonstrated that flooded areas ended the season up to 32 cm thicker than untreated ice. The treated ice also melted more slowly during the melt season.
According to The Guardian, the Real Ice team pumped 50,000 tonnes of seawater onto the ice, achieving a thickness increase of about 50 cm. This enhancement could potentially extend the ice's lifespan by 7 to 10 days during the melt season.
Arctic summer sea ice has declined by approximately 40% over the past 45 years, exacerbating warming due to reduced albedo. Satellite data indicates a mean thinning rate of –0.82 cm per year in the Canadian Arctic.
Despite the potential benefits, geoengineering approaches like this face criticism for being environmentally risky and challenging to scale. Real Ice CEO Andrea Ceccolini emphasizes the importance of transparent research and community involvement in the process.
Inuit guide Kyle Weese supports the experiment, acknowledging its potential to help rather than harm the environment.