Chinese Journal of Polar Research

ADVANCES IN POLAR SCIENCE ›› 2011, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (3): 205-216.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1084.2011.00205

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Status of Arctic Sea Ice and Atmospheric Circulation during the period of Chinese Fourth Arctic Research Expedition

Sui Cuijuan1，Zhang Zhanhai2，Ling Tiejun1，Wu Huiding1,2，Yu Lejiang3
  

  1. 1. National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center
    2. Polar Research Institute of China
    3. Applied Hydrometeorological Research Institute, Nanjing University of information Science & Technology
  • Received:2010-12-29 Revised:2011-04-12 Online:2011-09-30 Published:2011-09-30
  • Contact: Cui-Juan SUI

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Abstract:

Based on the data from National Sea Ice Data Center (NSIDC), we presented the Arctic sea ice extent and concentration during the Fourth Chinese Arctic Research Expedition 2010, and analyzed the corresponding atmospheric circulation using NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data. It was found that the positive dipole anomaly caused the increase of ice melt rates in June and August. The ice extent in June of this year reached the minimum of historical records in June. The melt rate was reduced in July due to the control of low pressure. In August, leads and polynyas presented in large area spanning the North Pole from Pacific Ocean to Atlantic Ocean where the ice concentration is lower than 80%. We therefore made the conclusion that the ice extent and concentration were significantly affected by the atmospheric circulation. Additionally, we also pointed out that the earlier clearing of sea ice along the Northwest Passage was caused by the abnormally higher temperature during springtime in the Canadian Arctic area.

Key words: Ice drift