The recent amplifying seasonal cycle of the Arctic sea ice extent related to the subsurface cooling in the Bering Sea

• Main Authors: Yang, Xiao-Yi, Wang, Guihua
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Arctic; Bering Sea; Chukchi; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2019-37; https://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/tc-2019-37/

After an unprecedented and accelerated retreat, the total Arctic sea ice cover in recent decade is characterized with low extent and large amplitude of annual cycle. This study investigated the spatial-temporal variation of the Arctic sea ice extent and the potential factors accounting for its amplifying seasonal cycle. The results show that the Chukchi-Bering sector of Arctic exhibits a contrasting decadal variation of sea ice extent between the different seasons: The sea ice in recent decade decreased in summer-autumn seasons but increased significantly in spring, leading an amplifying seasonal cycle. This decadal expansion of spring Chukchi-Bering sea ice may be attributed to the significant subsurface cooling in the northern Bering Sea.