Greater role for Atlantic inflows on sea-ice loss in the Eurasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean
University of Alaska Fairbanks · Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory · +11 more institutions
Abstract
Arctic sea-ice loss is a leading indicator of climate change and can be attributed, in large part, to atmospheric forcing. Here, we show that recent ice reductions, weakening of the halocline, and shoaling of the intermediate-depth Atlantic Water layer in the eastern Eurasian Basin have increased winter ventilation in the ocean interior, making this region structurally similar to that of the western Eurasian Basin. The associated enhanced release of oceanic heat has reduced winter sea-ice formation at a rate now comparable to losses from atmospheric thermodynamic forcing, thus explaining the recent reduction in sea-ice cover in the eastern Eurasian Basin. This encroaching "atlantification" of the Eurasian…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 44.63
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 52
Authors
16- IVIgor V. PolyakovCorresponding
University of Alaska Fairbanks
- AVAndrey V. Pnyushkov
University of Alaska Fairbanks
- MBMatthew B. Alkire
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory
- IAIgor Ashik
Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
- TMTill M. Baumann
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Topics & keywords
- Arctic sea ice decline
- Halocline
- Arctic ice pack
- Arctic dipole anomaly
- Oceanography
- Structural basin
- Geology
- Arctic
- Life below water