Articles tagged with Sea Ice
A new University of Washington study finds a trend toward earlier sea ice melt in the spring and later ice growth in the fall across all 19 polar bear populations. The analysis shows that critical timing of sea ice break-up and freeze-up is changing in a direction harmful for polar bears.
A recent study reveals that the expansion of Antarctic sea ice has caused a significant freshening of the Southern Ocean. The increased freshwater flux from the sea-ice conveyor belt explains the observed salinity changes in the region.
A new technique pioneered by scientists at Plymouth University can unravel historic changes to Antarctic sea ice, as well as demonstrate past alterations to glaciers and ice shelves. The method builds on an existing technique that identified changes to Arctic sea ice, allowing for the recovery and analysis of IP25 lipids from sediments.
Arctic sea ice cover is still declining despite slower melt rates, scientists say. The new normal for sea ice extent is expected to remain low due to extreme weather conditions.
Researchers have discovered a 65% reduction in Antarctic sea ice around 128,000 years ago, which has significant implications for predicting the Earth's future climate. The study, published in Nature Communications, used analysis of ice cores to determine the state of Antarctic sea ice during this past warm period.
Researchers have found strong evidence of sea ice distribution in the Nordic seas over the past 90,000 years, using a marine sediment core. The study reveals that sea ice played a significant role in shaping climate change and ocean currents during this period.
Researchers have discovered methylmercury-producing bacteria in Antarctic sea ice, which can contaminate marine life and food webs. The findings raise concerns about mercury pollution in a warming climate, particularly in depleted fish stocks.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that little auks target the continental shelf and its edge for foraging, regardless of sea ice presence. The birds' diet varied depending on the location, with larger prey preferred at the shelf break when ice was absent.
A new study by NCAR suggests that the recent trend of increasing Antarctic sea ice extent can be explained by a natural climate fluctuation, specifically the negative phase of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO). This natural variability cancels out when simulations are averaged, leaving only human-caused climate change as the p...
A new study reveals that changes in Antarctic coastal polynyas are driven by variations in surrounding ice, including ice shelves and glaciers. Sea ice production decreases during major events like ice shelf collapse and increases when off-shore first-year ice is reduced.
A new study reveals that Antarctic sea ice migration drives the strength of global ocean circulation by changing water density. The researchers found that freshwater from melting sea ice contributes 10 times more to freshwater input than land-based glaciers, making it a vital contributor to circulation.
Operation IceBridge completed its eighth spring Arctic campaign, collecting data on key portions of the Greenland Ice Sheet and Arctic sea ice. The mission focused on measuring changes in sea ice extent, thickness, and elevation, with implications for predicting melt season patterns.
Sea ice physicists project a possible record-low Arctic sea ice extent this summer, with thin ice unlikely to survive the melting season. The CryoSat-2 satellite data shows that arctic sea ice was unusually thin in 2015 and grew slowly during the past winter.
Scientists discover sediment cores from Lomonosov Ridge, revealing a window into Arctic Ocean climate history. The cores show that the central Arctic was ice-free during summer, with sea surface temperatures reaching 4-9 degrees Celsius.
Scientists at NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center report that Arctic sea ice extent reached a record low wintertime maximum in 2016, with the lowest extent since satellite records began in 1979. The warming ocean waters are likely to contribute to continued declines in Arctic sea ice cover.
Beluga whales have been found to dive to depths of up to 900 meters to maximize their encounters with prey, such as Arctic cod. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of beluga migration and feeding patterns in the Arctic, shedding light on the impact of climate change on these elusive marine mammals.
Researchers find massive release of CO2 from Southern Ocean occurred when Antarctic sea ice melted, not due to changes in ocean density. The expansion and retreat of sea ice acted as a 'lid' controlling CO2 exchange between ocean and atmosphere.
A Dartmouth College-led study finds that melting sea ice will significantly increase Arctic precipitation, creating a climate feedback comparable to doubling global carbon dioxide. The researchers used isotopic compositions of precipitation to quantify the link between precipitation and sea ice change.
The Arctic Report Card 2015 reveals a warming trend with air temperature 2.3 degrees above average, sea ice extent at its lowest record since 1979, and significant melting on the Greenland ice sheet. Fish and walrus are adapting to the changing climate by moving north in search of new habitats.
Scientists at NCAR predict a possible slow-down in winter sea ice loss over the next several years, driven by changes in the North Atlantic ocean circulation. Weakening of the AMOC may mask human-caused climate change impacts and stabilize sea ice extent.
Operation IceBridge collected critical data on Arctic sea ice and Antarctic glaciers, revealing significant glacier losses in the Antarctic Peninsula. The mission also provided essential measurements for calibrating satellite data and validating numerical models of ice sheet gains and losses.
A study found that Chukchi Sea polar bears spent more time on land during summer sea ice loss, with minimal access to preferred prey. The increased land use may lead to increased nutritional stress and human-polar bear interactions.
The Arctic Ocean is a significant source of atmospheric methane due to interactions between the atmosphere, sea ice, and ocean. The study found that sea ice can be a source of methane, releasing it into the atmosphere during melting and freezing processes.
A new study predicts that parts of the Arctic Ocean will see at least 60 days a year of open water by the 2050s. Researchers used climate simulations to investigate local impacts of open water expansion patterns in the Arctic, finding that many sites will have more than 100 additional days of open water by then.
New studies reveal that human-produced aerosols could lead to up to 40% of future Arctic sea ice loss and formation of coastal sea ice drives North Pacific ocean circulation. Meanwhile, scientists face challenges in predicting sea level rise from West Antarctica's melting ice sheet.
Researchers found that coastal sea ice formation in the North Pacific plays a key role in driving deep ocean circulation, influencing regional and global climate patterns. The study's findings could improve global climate models by capturing small-scale processes that are currently missing.
An international team of scientists has identified 41 potential 'tipping points' where regional climate shifts could occur, including abrupt changes in ocean circulation patterns and vegetation. These events may happen at global warming levels below two degrees, challenging the notion of a safe limit.
The 2015 Antarctic maximum sea ice extent is the 22nd lowest on record, breaking a streak of record highs. The strong El Niño event had an impact on the sea ice distribution in west Antarctica, causing it to be 513,000 square miles below the previous record high.
A large-scale study has revealed that only juvenile fish are found under the Arctic sea ice, a habitat feared to disappear due to climate change. The researchers caught over nine billion polar cod using a new net, providing insights into their lifecycle and origin.
A new study from York University found that Arctic sea ice in the Northwest Passage remains too thick to support regular commercial shipping. The research measured ice thickness using an airplane equipped with a sounder and surveyed the ice in April and May of 2011 and again in 2015.
The NASA Operation IceBridge campaign is conducting overlapping flights in Antarctica and the Arctic to track changes in polar ice conditions. The team aims to compare measurements taken during spring and summer campaigns, providing insight into ice thickness variations within the year.
A recent study reveals that life on the seafloor in Antarctica is acting as an important carbon sink, absorbing nearly 2.9 ? 106 tons of carbon per year. This discovery suggests a new and unexpected way to combat climate change, with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 50,000 hectares of tropical rainforest.
Methane emissions from Arctic tundra increase when sea ice melts due to altered ocean temperatures and microbial activity. The loss of sea ice has a significant impact on the Arctic climate, leading to higher temperatures and increased methane production.
Researchers translate microscopic concepts to study polar sea ice, capturing dynamic forces with a tractable equation. The new approach opens up climate science to nonequilibrium statistical mechanics methods, solving the long-standing challenge of measuring sea ice volume.
The 2015 Arctic sea ice minimum extent is the fourth lowest on record, with a minimum of 1.70 million square miles. The decline in sea ice cover has accelerated since the late 1970s and is attributed to warming temperatures.
Researchers at CU-Boulder have developed a new technique for estimating sea ice concentration, improving US Navy forecasts by almost 40%. The blended input approach combines satellite data and human interpretation to capture smaller patches of sea ice, enhancing forecast accuracy.
A new study suggests that warmer air and reduced sea ice in the Arctic may lead to lower levels of toxic methylmercury in fish and humans. The EarthQuiz challenge allows users to explore virtual field locations with interactive imagery and puzzles.
Researchers found that Arctic sea ice experienced a significant increase in volume after a cool summer in 2013, contrary to expected long-term decline trends. This suggests the ice pack is more sensitive to summer melting than winter cooling, enabling better predictions of future changes.
A new study finds polar bears experience limited energy savings in summer due to the ongoing loss of sea ice. Despite initial hopes that they could compensate for food deprivation through modified activity and metabolic rates, researchers found no evidence of such adaptations.
Operation IceBridge successfully collected data over sea and land ice regions, releasing two sea ice data products to aid in forecasting Arctic sea ice behavior. The mission also supported various international research collaborations and provided valuable data to inform models predicting summer sea ice melt.
A recent multinational study assesses the impact of Arctic sea ice decline on 11 marine mammal species, including seals, walruses, and polar bears. The research highlights the critical role of sea ice in their habitats, revealing changes in population trends, feeding patterns, and behavior.
Scientists propose whitening Arctic Ocean to restore sea ice, but research shows it would not effectively cool the climate or prevent methane release. The study found that ocean whitening could lead to wetter and milder winter conditions in some regions.
A study by USGS scientists found that polar bears are increasingly forced to eat terrestrial foods like berries, birds, and eggs due to sea ice loss. However, these alternative food sources provide limited nutritional benefits for the bears.
A multinational study reviews the current state of knowledge and recommends conservation measures for Arctic marine mammals due to climate change. The study finds profound reductions in sea ice cover and its impact on species such as polar bears and seals.
A new study published in The Cryosphere reveals a significant thinning of Arctic sea ice over the past four decades. The research, led by University of Washington climatologist Ron Lindsay, shows that September ice thickness has decreased by 85% between 1975 and 2012.
Global sea ice has been decreasing at an average annual rate of 13,500 square miles since 1979, with the Arctic losing more than it gains in Antarctica. The Arctic ice decrease has accelerated over time, leading to increased absorption of solar radiation and further heating.
Researchers found that Arctic sea ice trend is influenced by internal variability, making long-term predictions challenging. There's a 34% chance of no change or growth in sea ice over a seven-year period, and a 5% chance of rapid loss.
A new study reveals that Gentoo penguins are better adapted to deal with climate change than Chinstrap penguins, which may be struggling due to declining krill populations. The research suggests that Gentoo penguins' diverse and flexible diet is helping them thrive in a changing environment.
Scientists have observed a significant increase in solar radiation absorbed in the Arctic since 2000, driven by the decline of sea ice. This trend is linked to climate change, with the region experiencing more dramatic warming than anywhere else on Earth.
The NASA Operation IceBridge mission has completed its 2014 Antarctic campaign, building on previous studies to understand changes in ice conditions over time. Researchers collected data on sea ice, glaciers, and sub-ice water depth to inform projections of future Antarctic Ice Sheet changes.
Scientists have found that the Arctic Ocean's sea ice cover began to form around 2.6 million years ago, with significant expansion occurring around this time. This new knowledge can be used to improve future climate models and predict potential ice-free periods, which could have major implications for the planet's climate system.
A new underwater robot has enabled scientists to create detailed, high-resolution 3D maps of Antarctic sea ice, providing accurate measurements of ice thickness and volume. The technology, known as SeaBED, fills a gap in data collection by allowing researchers to measure thicker areas of sea ice.
A National Science Foundation-funded research team has successfully tested an autonomous underwater vehicle, AUV, that can produce high-resolution three-dimensional maps of Antarctic sea ice. The results provide a powerful tool to study changes in sea-ice extent.
Researchers discovered that open oceans are less efficient at emitting far-infrared energy than sea ice, leading to warmer oceans and melting sea ice. This phenomenon contributes significantly to the polar climate's warming trend, with simulations predicting a 2-degree Celsius increase in the Arctic climate after just 25 years.
Researchers embark on Operation IceBridge to study changes in Antarctica's ice sheet, glaciers, and sea ice. The mission aims to collect data on the rapid decline of glaciers and variations in sea ice coverage.
Researchers have observed a significant increase in Antarctic sea ice extent, reaching a new record high. This upward trend is an exception to the overall decline of sea ice globally.
Arctic sea ice coverage reached its annual minimum of 1.94 million square miles in September 2014, the sixth lowest recorded since 1978. The summer started cool and lacked intense storms or persistent winds, contributing to the low extent.
Researchers found that Arctic sea ice helps remove large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere through chemical processes. The discovery suggests that every winter, newly formed sea ice forms flower-like structures called frost flowers, which hold high concentrations of calcium carbonate and can impact the potential CO2 uptake in the Arctic.
Reconstruction of sea ice changes in the Fram Strait reveals that Arctic sea ice cover decline led to significant weakening of the Gulf Stream. This change had a direct impact on European climate, with cooling occurring twice in the past 30,000 years.
Arctic sea ice covered about 2.31 million square miles on Aug. 19, falling short of the record low in 2012 but continuing a trend of decline over the past 30 years. NASA scientists are flying three airborne research campaigns to study climate-driven changes in the Arctic.