Recent changes in the Arctic melt season

Authors: Stroeve, Julienne; Markus, Thorsten; Meier, Walter N.; Miller, Jeff

Source: Annals of Glaciology, Volume 44, Number 1, November 2006 , pp. 367-374(8)

Publisher: International Glaciological Society

Key:
Free Content - Free Content
New Content - New Content
Subscribed Content - Subscribed Content
Free Trial Content - Free Trial Content

Abstract:

Melt-season duration, melt-onset and freeze-up dates are derived from satellite passive microwave data and analyzed from 1979 to 2005 over Arctic sea ice. Results indicate a shift towards a longer melt season, particularly north of Alaska and Siberia, corresponding to large retreats of sea ice observed in these regions. Although there is large interannual and regional variability in the length of the melt season, the Arctic is experiencing an overall lengthening of the melt season at a rate of about 2 weeks decade −1. In fact, all regions in the Arctic (except for the central Arctic) have statistically significant (at the 99% level or higher) longer melt seasons by >1 week decade −1. The central Arctic shows a statistically significant trend (at the 98% level) of 5.4 days decade −1. In 2005 the Arctic experienced its longest melt season, corresponding with the least amount of sea ice since 1979 and the warmest temperatures since the 1880s. Overall, the length of the melt season is inversely correlated with the lack of sea ice seen in September north of Alaska and Siberia, with a mean correlation of −0.8.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.3189/172756406781811583

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$32.34 plus tax

 

OR

Back to top

Key:
Free Content - Free Content
New Content - New Content
Subscribed Content - Subscribed Content
Free Trial Content - Free Trial Content
Page Help Click here for Page Help
Shopping cart
Tools
Sign in






Need to register?
Sign up here
Text size: A | A | A | A