NAO influence on net sea ice production and exchanges in the Arctic region

• Main Authors: Aixue Hu, Claes Rooth, Rainer Bleck
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2003
• Subjects: Arctic; North Atlantic; North Atlantic oscillation; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.583.4461; http://www.cgd.ucar.edu/ccr/ahu/papers/paper2.pdf

The variability of the net sea ice production and the sea ice exchanges between the Arctic and its adjacent seas are studied, using a coupled sea ice-ocean general circulation model. The wind driven divergence (or ice flux export) is the major factor controlling the net sea ice production in the Arctic region since a thinning ice cover suppresses the development of thermal insulation during the ice formation process. The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) related atmospheric circulation changes can significantly modify the sea ice export and net production, especially in the thin ice zone (such as the Eurasian coastal region). 1