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Clues to variability in Arctic minimum sea ice extent
Author(s) -
Francis Jennifer A.,
Hunter Elias,
Key Jeffrey R.,
Wang Xuanji
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2005gl024376
Subject(s) - climatology , sea ice , downwelling , cryosphere , arctic ice pack , antarctic sea ice , longwave , geology , forcing (mathematics) , arctic sea ice decline , drift ice , arctic , atmospheric sciences , lead (geology) , environmental science , oceanography , radiative transfer , upwelling , physics , quantum mechanics , geomorphology
Perennial sea ice is a primary indicator of Arctic climate change. Since 1980 it has decreased in extent by about 15%. Analysis of new satellite‐derived fields of winds, radiative forcing, and advected heat reveals distinct regional differences in the relative roles of these parameters in explaining variability in the northernmost ice edge position. In all six peripheral seas studied, downwelling longwave flux anomalies explain the most variability – approximately 40% – while northward wind anomalies are important in areas north of Siberia, particularly earlier in the melt season. Anomalies in insolation are negatively correlated with perennial ice retreat in all regions, suggesting that the effect of solar flux anomalies is overwhelmed by the longwave influence on ice edge position.