The percolation phase transition in sea ice

Sea ice exhibits a marked transition in its fluid transport properties at a critical brine volume fraction p(c) of about 5 percent, or temperature T-c of about -5 degrees C for salinity of 5 parts per thousand. For temperatur es warmer than T-c, brine carrying heat and nutrients can move through the ice, whereas for colder temperatures the ice is impermeable. This transitio n plays a key role in the geophysics, biology, and remote sensing of sea ic e. Percolation theory can be used to understand this critical behavior of t ransport in sea ice. The similarity of sea ice microstructure to compressed powders is used to theoretically predict p(c) of about 5 percent.