Regions of rapid sea ice change: An inter-hemispheric seasonal comparison

• Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
• Main Authors: Stammerjohn, S, Massom, R, Rind, D, Martinson, D
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Amer Geophysical Union 2012
• Subjects: Earth Sciences; Physical geography and environmental geoscience; Glaciology; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Arctic; Bellingshausen Sea; Ross Sea; Antarc*; Antarctica; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GL050874; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/78806

This bi-polar analysis resolves ice edge changes onspace/time scales relevant for investigating seasonal iceoceanfeedbacks and focuses on spatio-temporal changes inthe timing of annual sea ice retreat and advance over 1979/80 to 2010/11. Where Arctic sea ice decrease is fastest, thesea ice retreat is now nearly 2 months earlier and subsequentadvance more than 1 month later (compared to 1979/80),resulting in a 3-month longer summer ice-free season. Inthe Antarctic Peninsula and Bellingshausen Sea region, seaice retreat is more than 1 month earlier and advance 2 monthslater, resulting in a more than 3-month longer summer icefreeseason. In contrast, in the western Ross Sea (Antarctica)region, sea ice retreat and advance are more than 1 monthlater and earlier respectively, resulting in a more than2 month shorter summer ice-free season. Regardless of trendmagnitude or direction, and at latitudes mostly poleward of70 degree (N/S), there is strong correspondence between anomaliesin the timings of sea ice retreat and subsequent advance,but little correspondence between advance and subsequentretreat. These results support a strong ocean thermal feedbackin autumn in response to changes in spring sea iceretreat. Further, model calculations suggest different netocean heat changes in the Arctic versus Antarctic whereautumn sea ice advance is 1 versus 2 months later. Ocean-atmospherechanges, particularly in boreal spring and australautumn (i.e., during ~March-May), are discussed and compared,as well as possible inter-hemispheric climate connections.