Upper ocean warming and sea ice reduction in the East Greenland Current from 2003 to 2019

• Published in: Communications Earth & Environment
• Main Authors: Laura de Steur, Hiroshi Sumata, Dmitry V. Divine, Mats A. Granskog, Olga Pavlova
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Portfolio 2023
• Subjects: Geology; QE1-996.5; Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Greenland; East Greenland; east greenland current; Fram Strait; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00913-3; https://doaj.org/article/afd9da653022489a9ec6e34ae759f8b7

Abstract The sea ice extent and sea ice thickness in the Arctic Ocean have declined consistently in the last decades. The loss of sea ice as well as warmer inflowing Atlantic Water have major consequences for the Arctic Ocean heat content and the watermasses flowing out from the Arctic. Sustained observations from ocean moorings show that the upper ocean temperature across the Arctic outflow with the East Greenland Current in the Fram Strait has increased significantly between 2003 and 2019. Polar Water contains more heat in summer due to lower sea ice concentration and longer periods of open water upstream. Warm returning Atlantic Water has a greater presence in the central Fram Strait in winter since 2015, impacting winter sea ice thickness and extent. Combined, these processes result in a reduced sea ice cover downstream along the whole east coast of Greenland with inevitable consequences for winter-time ocean convection and ecosystem functioning.