Arctic Sea Ice Season Shrinking By 5 Days/Decade; In Some Regions, Freezeup 11 Days/Decade Later

[hatrack]

The Arctic sea ice season is shortening by five days per decade, with the appearance of sea ice becoming delayed by warmer weather, according to new research.

Writing in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, University College London Earth sciences professor Julienne Stroeve and her colleagues report their analysis, which used satellite data, indicates that the Arctic Ocean is absorbing more of the Sun's energy in the summer, leading to a delayed appearance of autumn sea ice.

In some Arctic regions, the freezing is occurring up to 11 days per decade later than it has in the past. However, Stroeve noted that the headline figure of five days per decade hides a lot of variability in the iceless season. "From year to year, the onset and freeze-up of sea ice can vary by about a week," she said. "There are also strong variations in the total length of the melt season from region to region: up to 13 days per decade in the Chukchi Sea, while in one, the Sea of Okhotsk, the melt season is actually getting shorter."

The research has implications for tracking the effects of climate change, as well as practical applications for the logistical planning of shipping operations through Arctic waters and Arctic oil exploration missions.

EDIT

http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/6238/20140304/arctic-sea-ice-season-shortening-by-5-days-per-decade.htm

[raven mad]

1. Yeah, it is. And it is NOT making for good times up here.

We've had a very warm winter. That is NOT good news. The Iditarod (here in the interior we call it the Idiotrod) lost it's 4 really good mushers - who CARE about their dogs and the history - no snow. In Rohn. No snow.

My daughter lives in Alabama, as does my granddaughter. We started out this winter teasing each other about the weather, like......hey, Mom is it cold yet? I had to keep saying, no, it isn't. There? They were cold; and the resources weren't there to help millions getting the, ahem "Arctic" blast............ I'm used to 40 below and 30 above (heck, 30 above is motorcycle weather).........

It may be "climate change" (as I giggle out loud). It may be the entire earth is shifting on its axis. What it is? Is real, and my polar bears are dying, as are our fox and oh, well - get used to it.