The project aims to unravel changes in Arctic freshwater and ocean currents using advanced remote sensing and AI technologies.
The European Research Council (ERC) has announced the recipients of its latest round of Starting Grants. Marta Umbert, a researcher at the Instituto de Ciencias del Mar (ICM-CSIC), has been awarded an ERC Starting Grant for her innovative project "FRESH-CARE," focused on understanding freshwater and ocean currents changes in the Arctic using remote sensing.
The Arctic is experiencing rapid warming, leading to significant hydrographic changes such as sea ice retreat, freshwater accumulation, and altered ocean currents. These changes can destabilize Earth's thermohaline circulation, which is crucial for regulating the global climate system. Despite its importance, the ultimate fate of Arctic freshwater remains uncertain. Current estimates lack the high resolution that remote sensing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can provide, making it essential to improve freshwater flux uncertainties to better predict future climate impacts.
"FRESH-CARE aims to transform our understanding of Arctic freshwater dynamics," explained Marta Umbert. "By leveraging advanced satellite data and AI, we will develop new methodologies to offer a comprehensive view of ocean currents and freshwater fluxes in the Arctic Ocean. This will help us make more accurate projections and enhance our understanding of the global climate system."
The project will focus on three specific objectives: developing an AI-based methodology to characterize four-dimensional ocean currents, quantifying freshwater transports through the main Arctic gateways, and performing simulations for future Arctic freshwater scenarios using a coupled ice-ocean model. These objectives will be addressed through innovative methodologies that integrate remote sensing, in-situ data, and model simulations to forecast freshwater transports under various Shared Socioeconomic Pathways.
"FRESH-CARE will provide pan-Arctic estimates of ocean currents and freshwater distribution with high spatiotemporal resolution, benefiting polar oceanographers, earth modelers, and climate scientists, as well as society at large," said Marta Umbert. "The findings will significantly enhance the understanding and assimilation of ocean freshwater in future global climate models."
The ERC Starting Grant is part of the EU's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, which supports early-career researchers in launching their own initiatives. This year, 494 Starting Grants have been awarded to young scientists and scholars across Europe.