Abstract:

The Arctic sea ice distribution, thickness variation, surface characteristics and snow cover variation as well as the climatology and its regional differentiating are discussed according to previous research results and our observation in the Arctic Ocean, August 1999. A comparison of sea ice between Arctic and Antarctic areas is conducted. It can be found that, the climate trend in Arctic Ocean is different from the areas around the ocean. This is mainly due to alternate distribution of ice floes and open water in Arctic Ocean in summer, the drifting, melting and absorbing heat of sea ice, which balance the temperature fluctuation around.