Daily ice production and polynya area in the Laptev Sea region during 1979-2009 ...

• Main Authors: Willmes, Sascha, Adams, Susanne, Schröder, David, Heinemann, Günther
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2011
• Subjects: laptev; Laptev Sea; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.793230; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.793230

Polynyas in the Laptev Sea are examined with respect to recurrence and interannual wintertime ice production.We use a polynya classification method based on passive microwave satellite data to derive daily polynya area from long-term sea-ice concentrations. This provides insight into the spatial and temporal variability of open-water and thin-ice regions on the Laptev Sea Shelf. Using thermal infrared satellite data to derive an empirical thin-ice distribution within the thickness range from 0 to 20 cm, we calculate daily average surface heat loss and the resulting wintertime ice formation within the Laptev Sea polynyas between 1979 and 2008 using reanalysis data supplied by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, USA, as atmospheric forcing. Results indicate that previous studies significantly overestimate the contribution of polynyas to the ice production in the Laptev Sea. Average wintertime ice production in polynyas amounts to approximately 55 km3 ± 27% and is mostly determined by the polynya ... : For a definition of the areas used see Bareiss and Görgen (2005, doi:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2004.12.004) or Fig. 1 of article. ...