Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-3107
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-3107
16 Feb 2024
 | 16 Feb 2024

Developing a deep learning forecasting system for short-term and high-resolution prediction of sea ice concentration

Are Frode Kvanum, Cyril Palerme, Malte Müller, Jean Rabault, and Nick Hughes

Abstract. There has been a steady increase of marine activity throughout the Arctic Ocean during the last decades, and maritime end users are requesting skillful high-resolution sea ice forecasts to ensure operational safety. Different studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of utilizing computationally lightweight deep learning models to predict sea ice properties in the Arctic. In this study, we utilize operational atmospheric forecasts as well as ice charts and sea ice concentration passive microwave observations as predictors to train a deep learning model with ice charts as the ground truth. The developed deep learning forecasting system can predict regional sea ice concentration at one kilometer resolution for 1 to 3-day lead time. We validate the deep learning system performance by evaluating the position of forecasted sea ice concentration contours at different concentration thresholds. It is shown that the deep learning forecasting system achieves a lower error for several sea ice concentration contours when compared against baseline-forecasts (persistence-forecasts and a linear trend), as well as two state-of-the-art dynamical sea ice forecasting systems (neXtSIM and Barents-2.5) for all considered lead times and seasons.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

02 Oct 2025
Developing a deep learning forecasting system for short-term and high-resolution prediction of sea ice concentration
Are Frode Kvanum, Cyril Palerme, Malte Müller, Jean Rabault, and Nick Hughes
The Cryosphere, 19, 4149–4166, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4149-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4149-2025, 2025
Short summary
Are Frode Kvanum, Cyril Palerme, Malte Müller, Jean Rabault, and Nick Hughes

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-3107', Anonymous Referee #1, 03 Apr 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Are Frode Kvanum, 03 Jun 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-3107', Anonymous Referee #2, 25 Apr 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Are Frode Kvanum, 03 Jun 2024

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-3107', Anonymous Referee #1, 03 Apr 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Are Frode Kvanum, 03 Jun 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-3107', Anonymous Referee #2, 25 Apr 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Are Frode Kvanum, 03 Jun 2024

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (22 Jul 2024) by Xichen Li
AR by Are Frode Kvanum on behalf of the Authors (24 Jul 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (07 Aug 2024) by Xichen Li
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (10 Oct 2024) by Xichen Li
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (01 Dec 2024) by Xichen Li
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (04 Dec 2024) by Xichen Li
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (14 Dec 2024)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (25 Jun 2025)
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (02 Jul 2025) by Christian Haas
AR by Are Frode Kvanum on behalf of the Authors (15 Jul 2025)  Author's response   Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

02 Oct 2025
Developing a deep learning forecasting system for short-term and high-resolution prediction of sea ice concentration
Are Frode Kvanum, Cyril Palerme, Malte Müller, Jean Rabault, and Nick Hughes
The Cryosphere, 19, 4149–4166, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4149-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4149-2025, 2025
Short summary
Are Frode Kvanum, Cyril Palerme, Malte Müller, Jean Rabault, and Nick Hughes

Model code and software

Project repository Are Frode Kvanum https://github.com/AreFrode/Developing_ice_chart_deep_learning_predictions

Are Frode Kvanum, Cyril Palerme, Malte Müller, Jean Rabault, and Nick Hughes

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Latest update: 02 Oct 2025
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Short summary
Recent studies have shown that machine learning models are effective at predicting sea ice concentration, yet few have explored the development of such models in an operational context. In this study, we present the development of a machine learning forecasting system which can predict sea ice concentration at 1 km resolution, up to 3 days ahead using real time operational data. The developed forecasts predict the sea ice edge position with a better accuracy than physical and baseline forecasts.
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