Cold Snap in March Leads to Late Sea Ice Maximum in the Arctic
07.04.2010 - Atmosphere & Space, Water & Oceans, Ice & Snow, Arctic
The Arctic Sea ice reached its maximum extent for this eyar on March 31st, 2010 - the latest date in the year for maximum Arctic sea ice extent since the start of satellite measurements of sea ice in 1979. After reaching an apparent maximum extent in early March, the sea ice began to decline before growing again to 15.25 million km². This late-season growth was triggered by cold weather and winds from the north over the Bering and Barents Seas.
Typically occurring between mid-February and the last week of March, this year’s sea ice maximum extent appeared above normal in the Bering and Baltic Sea, yet remained below normal over much of the Atlantic sector of the Arctic. However it is normal for the sea ice extent can vary some as it approaches the seasonal maximum since the newly-formed ice at the edge of the pack is sensitive to local wind and temperature patterns.
While of particular interest this year, the late date of this year’s maximum extent will probably not influence the summer sea ice extent very much, as the ice that formed late in the season is mostly thin first-year ice and likely to melt as summer approaches and temperatures rise.
Scientists often rely on ice age data as a way to infer ice thickness. While the Arctic has much less multiyear ice than it did in previous decades, this winter has seen some replenishment as it has lost less ice the past two summers in comparison with 2007, which saw a record low summer sea ice extent. The strong negative Arctic Oscillation prevented the ice from moving out of the Arctic.
Although having an additional multiyear ice could help more ice get through the summer melt season, summer ice extent will also depend strongly on weather patterns throughout the melt season.
