CT1/CT3 Meeting 22-23 April 2013 Hamburg

Varaibility of the Sea ice extent and its relationship with oceanic properties

C. Herbaut, M.-N. Houssais, A.-C. Blaizot

LOCEAN

Task 1.3.1 Characterize the spatial patterns of the ocean surface state (sea ice, SST)variability on seasonal to decadal time scales

Task 1.3.2 Link ocean surface state variability to key ocean quantities

Task 1.3.3 Impact of the atmosphere on the Arctic/North Atlantic ocean surface changes

Relationship between Sea Ice Area in the Barents and atlantic water properties

Arthun et al, 2012 Arthun et al, 2012

On annual mean: SIA lags by 1 or 2 years heat transport in BSO

SIAHeat transport (BSO)

Observations

Schlichtholz, 2011

Winter SIA in Barents Sea correlated with previous spring-summer SST

Model

SIATemperature (BSO)

Simulations :Period 1958-2012Forcing : 1958-1978:ERA40

1979-2012: ERA InterimPassive Tracers :

For Atlantic Water and Pacific Water Period 1979-2012.

Models: ¼° regional sea ice- ocean model Domain : Arctic-Atlantic (30°S).Open boundariesEmbedded high resolution model of the Nordic Seas (1/16°)

Objectives: To document the contribution of ocean processes to Arctic surface changesImpact of Atlantic and Pacific inflowContribution of mesoscale eddies.

Variability of the sea extent in the Eastern Arctic

March Sea Ice extent

September Sea Ice extent

Autocorrelation March Sea Ice extent

Autocorrelation September Sea Ice extent

correlation March-September Sea Ice extent

Patterns of sea ice concentration associated with the Sea ice extent varaibility

March September

Regression of march SICon march sea ice extent

Regression of september SICon september sea ice extent

Regression of september SICon march sea ice extent

Variability of the september sea ice extent: patterns of atmospheric forcing

Summer wind stress Summer surface heat flux

Variability of the september sea ice extent: patterns of associated SST

Previous winter (JFM) summer (JAS)

Regression of JFM SST on September sea ice extent

Regression of JAS SST on September sea ice extent

Variability of the march sea ice extent: patterns of atmospheric forcing

Winter wind stress Winter surface heat flux

Regression of JAS SST on March sea ice extent

Variability of the march sea ice extent: patterns of associated SST

Winter (JFM)Previous fall (OND)Previous summer (JAS)

Regression of OND SST on March sea ice extent

Regression JFM SST on March sea ice extent

Regression of september SIC on JAS Heat Transport through Bering Strait

Sea ice concentration changes associated with summer heat transport through Bering Strait

September March

Regression of march SIC on JAS Heat Transport through Bering Strait

In progress:Origin of the temperature anomalies in the Nordic Seas?Link of Temperature in Barents Sea with Atlantic inflow at FSC and IFRImpact of the vertical processes Influence of Heat transport through Fram Strait on sea ice variabilityImpact on the ice thickness

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union 7th Framework Programme (FP7 2007-2013), under grant agreement n.308299NACLIM www.naclim.eu