Climate: Arctic sea ice stays below average in February

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Downward trend continues …

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Antarctic sea ice was above normal in February and throughout the southern hemisphere summer, but that doesn’t balance the losses in Arctic sea ice, according to climate scientists. This NASA image shows ice in the Weddell Sea. Visit this NASA Earth Observatory web page for more information on Antarctic sea ice.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — With the spring equinox approaching, Arctic sea ice is nearing its maximum seasonal extent for the year, and the National Snow and Ice Data Center is reporting that there is no sign of any significant rebound in ice extent from the record-low levels of the last couple of years.

The average February Arctic sea ice extent has been declining at rate of 2.9 percent per decade since 1979, resulting in an overall decline of more than 1.57 million square kilometers (606,000 square miles) from 1979 to 2013. Read the full NSIDC report here. (more…)

Filed under: Antarctica, Arctic, climate and weather, Environment, global warming | Tagged: , , , , | 3 Comments »

Climate: Shifting winds drive Antarctic sea ice changes

Posted on November 11, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

New study pinpoints regional growth and decline of Antarctic sea ice

Researchers are starting to understand how shifting wind patterns are driving changes in Antarctic sea ice extent. Bob Berwyn photo.

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — After compiling more than 5 million individual daily ice motion measurements of sea ice motion around Antarctica, scientists from the U.S. and U.K. say they’re sure that the recent increases in Antarctic sea ice are linked to changing wind patterns in the region.

Essentially, the circumpolar winds are strengthening around Antarctica, said Dr. Ron Kwok, of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Why those winds are intensifying, and whether it’s linked with a warming atmosphere remains as a huge question, Kwok said. View a mult-year animation of Antarctic sea ice changes here.

“We are basically finding evidence of change over a long time scale … That’s why it’s inportant to quantify the mechanisms,” he said. “It’s probably associated with a changing climate. The Antarctic sea ice interacts with the global climate system very differently than that of the Arctic, and these results highlight the sensitivity of the Antarctic ice coverage to changes in the strength of the winds around the continent.” (more…)

Filed under: Antarctica, climate and weather, Environment, global warming, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Arctic sea ice at new record low in December

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Arctic sea ice continues to dwindle.

Air temps in large parts of Arctic more than 10 degrees above average,  Antarctic sea ice is at above-average extent

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — With unusually warm air temperatures prevailing over the Arctic for the second year in a row, Arctic sea ice was at its lowest for December since satellite measurements began in 1979. At the same time, sea ice in Antarctica has remained at above average levels for the past four months during the spring melt season, according to a Jan. 5 bulletin from the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Scientists with the center said sea ice extent average about 4.63 million square miles during December, about 104,000 square miles less than the previous minimum, set in 2006, and 1.35 million less than the 1979 to 2000 average. Since satellite measurements began, the linear rate of decline in Arctic sea ice extent is 3.5 percent per decade. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Environment, global warming, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

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