Articles tagged with Sea Ice
The Arctic sea ice extent on Sept. 16 stood at 1.59 million square miles, lower than the long-term minimum average from 1979 to 2000 by about 1 million square miles. The minimum also breaks previous records set in 2005.
Researchers discovered that brine moving up or down through floating sea ice follows universal transport properties, similar to water flow through sedimentary rocks. This finding can help improve forecasts of global warming's impact on polar icepacks and understand how polar ecosystems respond to climate change.
Researchers have made significant discoveries in the AGU journal, including a new understanding of booming sand dunes, a reduction in the North Asian monsoon's incursion since AD 1400, and improvements in global ocean analysis. The study on booming sand dunes reveals that sound waves channeled through the dune amplify as they construct...
A CU-Boulder team forecasts a 92% probability of the September 2007 Arctic sea ice minimum extent setting a new record low. The researchers attribute this to rapid disintegration and thinning of multi-year ice, replaced by thinner first-year ice.
A team of UTSA researchers, led by renowned sea ice expert Stephen Ackley, will join a crew of 22 researchers from several countries to explore the Amundsen Sea in Antarctica. The two-month expedition aims to investigate the processes of how sea ice forms and interacts with the environment.
The Wildlife Conservation Society's 'Warm Waters for Cool Bears' project uses satellite imagery and meteorological data to predict where sea ice will persist, enabling conservation efforts. The study aims to inform management activities such as designating protected areas for polar bears and their prey species.
A new study finds that Arctic sea ice is retreating more quickly than computer models project, with the actual rate being 30 years ahead of schedule. The research indicates that greenhouse gases may be playing a significantly greater role in ice loss than previously thought.
Researchers at CU-Boulder's Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research predict a 57% chance of lower sea-ice minimum than 2006, with 70% chance within lowest five years on record. Declining Arctic sea ice is linked to higher winter temperatures due to greenhouse warming.
The Arctic sea-ice extent in March 2007 was the second lowest on satellite record, at 5.7 million square miles. Researchers attribute declining sea ice to rising greenhouse gases and strong natural variability.
A team of researchers led by Jennifer Hutchings will spend two weeks studying the relationship between ice movement, stress, and sea ice mass in the Beaufort Sea. The goal is to validate current sea ice models and reduce uncertainty in predicting arctic climate change.
A recent study by Ohio State University scientists reveals that Antarctic warming is reducing animals at the base of the ecosystem, causing some penguin populations to shift southward. The loss of sea ice and decrease in krill abundance will have significant impacts on marine ecosystems.
Researchers at UTSA's Department of Earth and Environmental Science are analyzing data collected in Antarctica to understand the impact of global warming on sea ice sheets. The team found regional increases and decreases in sea ice coverage, linked to global change in the atmosphere.
Researchers used satellite imagery and radar sensors to study Pacific walrus habitats in the Bering and Chukchi seas. They found that walruses prefer medium-thickness first-year ice, which is critical for their survival and way of life.
Researchers predict Arctic sea ice will retreat rapidly, becoming nearly ice-free by 2040, with global warming exacerbating the issue. The study suggests that greenhouse gas emissions can impact the likelihood of abrupt ice loss.
The Arctic sea ice minimum reached on Sept. 14 was the fourth lowest on record, with a decline of about 8.6 percent per decade. The ice has been declining at an area more than half the size of Ohio per year, threatening species like polar bears that depend on the ice for their livelihood.
Polar bears' habitat preferences shift as sea ice declines, affecting prey availability and reproduction. USGS research shows a causal link between earlier sea ice breakup and decreased polar bear survival.
The Arctic Ocean's perennial sea ice shrank by 730,000 square kilometers between 2004 and 2005, replacing it with more vulnerable seasonal ice. The loss of perennial ice raises concerns about future ice retreat and its impacts on the environment and marine transportation.
A new study reveals a significant decline in Arctic winter sea ice cover, with losses of six percent per year over the last two winters. This reduction is attributed to rising greenhouse gas emissions and warmer temperatures, posing a threat to marine ecosystems.
Researchers from NASA and the Canadian Wildlife Service found that climate warming is negatively impacting polar bears due to shorter spring hunting seasons and reduced sea-ice cover. This can lead to a decline in female reproduction, reduced body weight, and increased human-bear conflicts.
Nine lone walrus calves were reported swimming far from shore, unable to forage and likely to drown or starve. The researchers suggest that increased polar warming may lead to a significant population decline of the walrus species due to their inability to adapt to caring for their young in shallow waters without sea ice.
Researchers extracted a 3 km long ice core from Antarctica's plateau to study the Earth's climate over the last 740,000 years. The team found that as sea ice extent declined, salt levels rose due to brine expulsion, while dust levels increased in cold times, suggesting South America was drier or windier.
A new airborne radar system measures snow depth on Arctic sea ice, aiding climate change research and understanding polar bear habitats. The project validates satellite measurements and provides insights into the region's climate and wildlife.
Satellites have recorded a significant loss in Arctic sea ice extent, with the minimum concentration reaching 2.05 million sq. miles in 2005. The decline is attributed to warming trends and climate changes, which are expected to continue due to projected Arctic warming.
The Arctic sea ice has been declining at an accelerating rate since the 1990s, with temperatures increasing and causing earlier springtime melting. The lowest sea-ice extent yet recorded was seen in September 2005, 20% lower than the previous average.
Scientists predict that the Arctic Ocean could be ice-free during the summer months within 100 years due to rapid warming. The report highlights the urgent need for reducing carbon dioxide emissions to mitigate this drastic change.
A new NASA-funded study reveals that warmer air temperatures from greenhouse gas emissions may lead to an increase in sea ice volume in the Antarctic's Southern Ocean. This finding suggests a counterintuitive phenomenon where some of the melt in the Arctic is offset by increased sea ice volume in the Antarctic.
Researchers found that warmer air could increase Antarctic sea ice volume by suppressing ice below sea level and refreezing as thicker ice. This counterintuitive phenomenon is driven by thermohaline circulation, impacting global climate patterns.
The massive iceberg B-15A poses no obstacle to the resupply ships at McMurdo Station, with the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Polar Star on track to clear a channel through the sea ice. NSF has arranged for a backup icebreaker to assist if necessary.
Scientists have found significant acceleration in the world's fastest glacier, Jakobshavn Isbrae, which nearly doubled its discharge of ice between 1997 and 2003. Meanwhile, Arctic sea ice has been declining at an alarming rate, with some areas experiencing 9.2% per decade decline.
The September 2004 sea-ice loss was especially evident in extreme northern Alaska and eastern Siberia, with the decline averaging about 8 percent over the past decade. Climate change is likely playing a significant role, with some models indicating complete disappearance of summer sea ice by 2070.
Researchers used advanced technology to study Weddell seals' hunting habits and physiological adaptations. They discovered that these extreme athletes can survive for hours by catching and eating prey, providing insights into conservation efforts.
The study reveals a 20% faster rate of Arctic sea ice loss over the last two decades compared to the previous three decades. In contrast, Antarctica experienced a dramatic loss followed by a gradual expansion of its sea ice cover since the mid-1970s.
A recent study found that the Arctic warmed significantly over the last decade, with the largest temperature increases occurring in North America. The study's results have direct connections to other NASA-funded research on declining sea ice extent, which could lead to positive feedbacks and further climate change.
A massive iceberg drifted into the Ross Sea, blocking sunlight and preventing phytoplankton growth, which are a critical food source for krill and other marine animals. This event had a significant impact on the entire food chain in the Ross Sea.
Researchers developed a new technique to detect melt pond coverage on Arctic sea ice using NASA's Landsat 7 satellite. This method improves the understanding of the Arctic heat balance and its impact on global climate.
A team of researchers at an Arctic ice camp gather data to better understand the physical, biological, and chemical environment of the ice-covered ocean. They examine sea ice thickness, atmospheric mercury levels, and its impact on marine mammals.
The study found that Arctic temperatures are increasing at a rate of 1.2 degrees Celsius per decade, leading to the decline of perennial sea ice. If the perennial ice cover disappears, it could profoundly impact summer shipping lanes, plankton blooms, ocean circulation systems, and global climate.
A NASA study has linked the transport of sea ice through Fram Strait to the position and phase of the longest sea level pressure wave circling the Earth at polar latitudes. The study found that variations in this wave, called 'wave 1', explain up to 70% of Arctic ice export through the strait.
Despite expected global warming impacts, a NASA study reveals an increase in Antarctic sea ice coverage, with the area lengthening by at least one day per year spanning around 5.6 million square kilometers.
A NASA study reveals strong relationships between El Niño episodes and changes in Antarctic sea ice cover, indicating a connection between the Southern Oscillation and global climate. The findings suggest that El Niño affects regional ice distributions, with notable associations observed in the Amundsen, Bellingshausen, and Weddell Seas.
Giant icebergs, unprecedented ice conditions, are posing a significant threat to Antarctic penguin colonies. The Adelie colony at Cape Crozier is expected to fail this year due to the destruction of their breeding area, while Emperor Penguin colonies are also struggling to raise chicks.
A new NASA study found that the Icelandic low-pressure system affects Arctic sea ice cover, leading to regional variations and an overall decrease in ice extent. The system brings warm air northward, reducing ice cover east of Iceland, while also contributing to climate warming.
A new volume of research explores the physical processes and interactions of Antarctic sea ice, shedding light on its differences from Arctic sea ice. The study highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to understanding this complex environment, which is sensitive to climate change.
The new volume of the American Geophysical Union's Antarctic Research Series delves into the complex ecosystems found in Antarctic sea ice. Researchers explore various habitats, including algal biomass, nitrogen metabolism, and numerical ecosystem modeling studies, providing insights into the biodiversity of this unique environment.