Nutrients and organic matter dynamics in sea ice

This chapter focuses on sources, sinks, and biogeochemical transformations of biologically important inorganic and organic solutes in sea ice. We describe seasonally changing physical, chemical, and biological processes that influence the pools of dissolved inorganic macronutrients, micronutrients (trace metals), dissolved and particulate organic matter, and exopolymeric substances in sea ice. This chapter focuses on processes occurring in Arctic and Antarctic landfast sea ice and pack ice, while also including a limited number of examples from lower-latitude sea ice. Finally, we provide an outlook on future research needed to understand coupled physical–chemical–biological processes affecting biogeochemical cycling in rapidly changing sea ice–covered environments.