Arctic sea ice has been retreating and thinning at a fast pace since the beginning of satellite observations, mainly as a result of the ongoing anthropogenic global warming. On the opposite side of the globe, Antarctic sea ice has not displayed a significant trend due to regionally opposing trends and large interannual variability. The ocean plays a key role in driving changes in sea ice and carries a large amount of energy, potentially melting sea ice from below. Conversely, changes in sea ice can also greatly affect ocean circulation and heat transport. Despite an overall improvement in the understanding of sea ice-ocean interactions, significant gaps still exist.

The aim of this Research Topic is to raise the visibility and advance our understanding of sea ice-ocean interactions in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions using observational and modeling tools. This is an important step to improve our knowledge of the climate processes in both polar regions, which affect the climate a global scale. Combining the most recent studies in this field will further advance our understanding of sea-ice ocean interactions.

Both observational and modeling studies are welcome and can be submitted as Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Hypothesis and Theory, Perspective, Data Report, Brief Research Report, Opinion (see article types at https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science#article-types).

Topics of interest include, but are not restricted to:
- Influence of ocean heat transport and/or content on Arctic/Antarctic sea ice as revealed by observations and/or climate models
- Inter-basin comparison of the impact of ocean heat transport and/or content on sea ice
- Influence of Arctic/Antarctic sea ice on ocean dynamics from regional to global scales
- Effect of model resolution, or data initialization and/or assimilation, on sea ice-ocean interactions
- Impact of sea-ice growth and melt on the mixed layer depth and water mass transformation
- Teleconnections between sea ice and remote oceanic drivers (e.g. oceanic climate modes of variability).

Picture: Antarctic sea ice from the Polarstern ship [credit: Tim Kalvelage, 2020]

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Frontiers in Marine Science

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