A signal of persistent Atlantic multidecadal variability in Arctic sea ice

Type Article
Date 2014-01-28
Language English
Author(s) Miles Martin W.1, 2, 3, Divine Dmitry V.4, 5, Furevik Tore2, 6, Jansen Eystein1, 2, 7, Moros Matthias8, Ogilvie Astrid E. J.3
Affiliation(s) 1 : Uni Res, Bergen, Norway.
2 : Bjerknes Ctr Climate Res, Bergen, Norway.
3 : Univ Colorado, Inst Arctic & Alpine Res, Boulder, CO 80309 USA.
4 : Norwegian Polar Res Inst, Polar Environm Ctr, Tromso, Norway.
5 : Univ Tromso, Dept Math & Stat, Tromso, Norway.
6 : Univ Bergen, Inst Geophys, Bergen, Norway.
7 : Univ Bergen, Dept Earth Sci, Bergen, Norway.
8 : Balt Sea Res Inst, Rostock, Germany.
Source Geophysical Research Letters (0094-8276) (Amer Geophysical Union), 2014-01-28 , Vol. 41 , N. 2 , P. 463-469
DOI 10.1002/2013GL058084
WOS© Times Cited 96
Keyword(s) sea ice
Abstract Satellite data suggest an Arctic sea ice-climate system in rapid transformation, yet its long-term natural modes of variability are poorly known. Here we integrate and synthesize a set of multicentury historical records of Atlantic Arctic sea ice, supplemented with high-resolution paleoproxy records, each reflecting primarily winter/spring sea ice conditions. We establish a signal of pervasive and persistent multidecadal (~60–90 year) fluctuations that is most pronounced in the Greenland Sea and weakens further away. Covariability between sea ice and Atlantic multidecadal variability as represented by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) index is evident during the instrumental record, including an abrupt change at the onset of the early twentieth century warming. Similar covariability through previous centuries is evident from comparison of the longest historical sea ice records and paleoproxy reconstructions of sea ice and the AMO. This observational evidence supports recent modeling studies that have suggested that Arctic sea ice is intrinsically linked to Atlantic multidecadal variability. This may have implications for understanding the recent negative trend in Arctic winter sea ice extent, although because the losses have been greater in summer, other processes and feedbacks are also important.
Full Text
File Pages Size Access
Publisher's official version 7 842 KB Open access
Auxiliary Text 2 KB Open access
supporting information 8 1 MB Open access
Top of the page