Extreme anomalous atmospheric circulation in the west Antarctic Peninsula Region in Austral spring and summer 2001/02, and its profound impact on sea ice and biota

• Main Authors: Robert A. Massom, A Sharon E. Stammerjohn, B Raymond C. Smith, C Michael J. Pook, Richard A. Iannuzzi, B Neil Adams, E Douglas G. Martinson, B Maria Vernet, William R. Fraser, G Langdon B. Quetin, H Robin M. Ross, H Yuko Massom, I, H. Roy Krousej
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2006
• Subjects: Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Austral; Weddell; Antarc*; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.462.2928; http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/~sharons/MassomEtal-JCLI3805_2006.pdf

Exceptional sea ice conditions occurred in the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) region from September 2001 to February 2002, resulting from a strongly positive atmospheric pressure anomaly in the South Atlantic coupled with strong negative anomalies in the Bellingshausen–Amundsen and southwest Weddell Seas. This created a strong and persistent north-northwesterly flow of mild and moist air across the WAP. In situ, satellite, and NCEP–NCAR Reanalysis (NNR) data are used to examine the profound and complex impact on regional sea ice, oceanography, and biota. Extensive sea ice melt, leading to an ocean mixed layer freshening and widespread ice surface flooding, snow–ice formation, and phytoplankton growth, coincided with extreme ice deformation and dynamic thickening. Sea ice dynamics were crucial to the development of an unusually early and rapid (short) retreat season (negative ice extent anomaly). Strong winds with a