EPS can significantly change the sea ice microstructure. See how different the microstructure developes in sea ice frozen without (C) and in the presence of EPS (T). The width of the image corresponds to approx. 324 µm. The brine pores (inter- and intra- crystaline) nicely outlined in  C are muttled and have a higher degree of interconnectivity. Hence diatom chains such as Melosira arctica can anchor themselves in a complex network of brine channels. Poster