Understanding the Mechanism of Arctic Amplification and Sea Ice Loss
- 1School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- 2APEC Climate Center 1463, Haeundae-gu, Busan 48058, Republic of Korea
- 3Ocean Circulation and Climate Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Ansan, 15627, Republic of Korea
- 4Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, 4600 Elkhorn Avenue, Room 406, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529, USA
- 5Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, ECNT 320, 431 UCB, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0431, USA
- 1School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- 2APEC Climate Center 1463, Haeundae-gu, Busan 48058, Republic of Korea
- 3Ocean Circulation and Climate Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Ansan, 15627, Republic of Korea
- 4Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, 4600 Elkhorn Avenue, Room 406, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529, USA
- 5Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, ECNT 320, 431 UCB, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0431, USA
Abstract. Sea ice reduction is accelerating in the Barents and Kara Seas. Several mechanisms are proposed to explain the accelerated loss of polar sea ice, which remains an open question. In the present study, the detailed physical mechanism of sea ice reduction in winter is identified using the daily ERA interim reanalysis data. Downward longwave radiation is an essential element for sea ice reduction, but can only be sustained by excessive upward heat flux from the sea surface exposed to air in the region of sea ice loss. The increased turbulent heat flux is used to increase air temperature and specific humidity in the lower troposphere, which in turn increases downward longwave radiation. This feedback process is clearly observed in the Barents and Kara Seas in the reanalysis data. A quantitative assessment reveals that this feedback process is amplifying at the rate of ~ 8.9 % every year during 1979–2016. Based on this estimate, sea ice will completely disappear in the Barents and Kara Seas by around 2025. Availability of excessive heat flux is necessary for the maintenance of this feedback process; a similar mechanism of sea ice loss is expected to take place over the sea-ice covered polar region when sea ice is not fully recovered in winter.
Kwang-Yul Kim et al.


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RC1: 'Referee's comment on the manuscript "Understanding the Mechanism of Arctic Amplification and Sea Ice Loss" by Kim et al.', Anonymous Referee #1, 11 May 2017
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AC1: 'Response to comments from referee #1', Kwang-Yul Kim, 07 Jul 2017
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AC1: 'Response to comments from referee #1', Kwang-Yul Kim, 07 Jul 2017
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RC2: 'Review of “Understanding the Mechanism of Arctic Amplification and Sea Ice loss”', Anonymous Referee #2, 15 May 2017
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AC2: 'Response to comments from referee #2', Kwang-Yul Kim, 07 Jul 2017
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AC2: 'Response to comments from referee #2', Kwang-Yul Kim, 07 Jul 2017


-
RC1: 'Referee's comment on the manuscript "Understanding the Mechanism of Arctic Amplification and Sea Ice Loss" by Kim et al.', Anonymous Referee #1, 11 May 2017
-
AC1: 'Response to comments from referee #1', Kwang-Yul Kim, 07 Jul 2017
-
AC1: 'Response to comments from referee #1', Kwang-Yul Kim, 07 Jul 2017
-
RC2: 'Review of “Understanding the Mechanism of Arctic Amplification and Sea Ice loss”', Anonymous Referee #2, 15 May 2017
-
AC2: 'Response to comments from referee #2', Kwang-Yul Kim, 07 Jul 2017
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AC2: 'Response to comments from referee #2', Kwang-Yul Kim, 07 Jul 2017
Kwang-Yul Kim et al.
Kwang-Yul Kim et al.
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