(NASA Earth Observatory maps by Joshua Stevens, using AMSR2 data supplied by, Antarctic sea ice does not plainly show the effects of global warming. Remote Sensing, Water Since the mid-2000s, low minimum extents in the Arctic have become the “new normal.”. Caspar David Friedrich: Picture "The Sea of Ice" (1824) in Studio Framing. Sea ice also forms in areas south of the Arctic Ocean in winter, including the Sea of Okhotsk, the Bering Sea, Baffin Bay, Hudson Bay, the Greenland Sea, and the Labrador Sea. (NASA Earth Observatory maps by Joshua Stevens, based on AMSR2-E data from NSIDC.). Water These two seas are close to the Antarctic Peninsula, a region that has warmed significantly in recent decades. Sea ice around Antarctica peaks in September and reaches a minimum in February. Multiyear ice is less likely to be swept out of the Arctic basin into the warmer waters of the Atlantic. About Beyond the Sea of Ice. A second proxy is the detection of phytoplankton-derived organic compounds in Antarctic ice cores. Since phytoplankton grow most abundantly along the edges of the ice, the concentration of sulfur-containing compounds has been proposed as an indicator of how far the ice edge extended from the continent. In contrast to multiyear ice, first-year ice is thinner, saltier, and more prone to melt in the subsequent summer. By September 2016, sea ice dropped to 4.14 million square kilometers (1.6 million square miles), the second lowest extent of the satellite era. Southern Hemisphere sea ice does not get that close to the South Pole; it fringes the continent and reaches to 55°S latitude at its greatest extent. Eventually, the ice gets so thick that no more heat can escape. Set against a vivid blue sky, the focal point of the painting is the wreckage of a ship that has crashed into the ice and the rocks of the shore. Declining sea ice will lead to a loss of habitat for seals and polar bears; it also should increase encounters between polar bears and humans. On time scales of years to decades, the dominant cause of atmospheric variability around the North Pole is the Arctic Oscillation. Also called "The Wreck of Hope." When scientists are analyzing satellite data, it is easier to say whether there is or isn’t at least 15 percent ice cover in a pixel than it is to say, for example, whether the ice cover is 70 percent or 75 percent. Arctic Sea Ice Down to Second-Lowest Extent; Likely Record-Low Volume. Read Chapter 10 - Kara from the story The Sea of Ice (Sun and Moon Book 2) by Literacy101 (Eon, Queen of Epicury) with 3,691 reads. because the sea around the pole was free of ice. Feels like home. (Photograph ©2008, Life thrives along the margins of sea ice, as melting and freezing enhance circulation and bring nutrients to the surface. Stunningly visual, extraordinarily detailed, powerfully dramatic, here is the first volume of a remarkable new series . In the Antarctic, however, sea ice already melts almost completely each summer. To estimate area, scientists calculate the percentage of sea ice in each pixel, multiply by the pixel area, and add up the amounts. Those nutrients nourish phytoplankton and ultimately animals like killer whales that are farther up the food chain. Because there is no landmass at the North Pole, sea ice extends all the way to the pole, making the ice subject to the most extreme oscillations between wintertime darkness and summertime sunlight. This floating ice has a profound influence on the polar environment, influencing ocean … Sea ice is frozen water that forms, expands, and melts in the ocean. For ice to thicken, the ocean must lose heat to the atmosphere. (NASA Earth Observatory graph by Joshua Stevens, using NSIDC data provided by Walt Meier/NASA Goddard.). (2007), Steig, E.J., Schneider, D.P., Rutherford, S.D., Mann, M.E., Comiso, J.C., Shindell, D.T. (NASA Earth Observatory graph by Joshua Stevens, based on data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center.). The present painting was first shown in 1824 at the Prague Academy exhibition under the title An Idealized Scene of an Arctic Sea, with a Wrecked Ship on the Heaped Masses of Ice. Frequently Asked Questions about Sea Ice. (Photograph courtesy Benjamin Jones, USGS.). The Antarctic is in some ways the opposite of the Arctic. One reason may be that other atmospheric changes are softening the influence of global warming on Antarctica. (, Sea ice begins as thin sheets of smooth nilas in calm water (top) or disks of pancake ice in choppy water (2, Satellites measure sea ice concentration on a 25 kilometer by 25 kilometer grid. ENSO-related impacts on Antarctic sea ice: a synthesis of phenomenon and mechanisms. The lowest extent on record was set in 2012, and last year’s extent was tied for second – until this year’s. In some sectors, it is common for nearly all the sea ice to melt in the summer. Sea ice may also suppress ocean waves that would otherwise flex the shelf and speed ice shelf breakup. The stern of the wreck is just visible on the right. This ice has historically ranged from roughly 14-16 million square kilometers (about 5.4-6.2 million square miles) in late winter to roughly 7 million square kilometers (about 2.7 million square miles) each September. The strong winds also tend to flush ice out of the Arctic through the Fram Strait. (NASA Earth Observatory image by Joshua Stevens and George Riggs using data from Terra MODIS.). During “negative” phases of the oscillation, winds are weaker. Today, scientists studying Arctic sea ice trends can rely on a fairly comprehensive record dating back to 1953. The collector Johann Gottlob von Quandt commissioned two pictures that were to symbolize the south and the north. Since 1979, a collection of satellites has provided a continuous, nearly complete record of Earth’s sea ice cover. The loss of sea ice exposes shorelines to the full force of wind and waves, resulting in rapid erosion. The Sea of Ice Patch. Some researchers have hypothesized that melting sea ice could interfere with ocean circulation. Because whales tend to congregate and feed near the sea ice edge, their locations could be a proxy for ice extent. This can change the way ice is distributed among the various sectors. In Spufford's view, then, Walton was not a subordinate The interaction between sea ice loss and ice shelf retreat merits careful study because many ice shelves are fed by glaciers. The strengthening of the westerlies also isolates much of the continent and tends to have an overall cooling effect. Because of differences in geography and climate, the amount, location, and natural variability of sea ice in the Arctic and the Antarctic are different. Snow and Ice This is an area of active research, as scientists try to tease out the possible links between sea ice loss and mid-latitude weather patterns. September Arctic sea ice is now declining at a rate of 13.1 percent per decade, relative to the 1981 to 2010 average. Scientists estimate the amount of sea ice in each pixel. (NASA Earth Observatory graph by Joshua Stevens, based on data from the. In the Southern … Stunningly visual, extraordinarily detailed, powerfully dramatic, here is the first volume of a remarkable new series . Whither Arctic sea ice? Perspectives on the Arctic’s shrinking sea-ice cover. Whereas Northern Hemisphere sea ice can extend from the North Pole to a latitude of 45°N (along the northeast coasts of Asia and North America), most of the ice is found above 70°N. Even if it completely disappeared in the summer, the impact on the Earth’s climate system would likely be much smaller than a similar disappearance of Arctic ice. Antarctic sea ice trends are smaller and more complex. Sea ice is an important element of the Arctic system because it (1) acts as a barrier between the underlying ocean and the atmosphere, (2) limits the amount of absorbed solar energy during the summer due to its high albedo, (3) provides a habitat for biological activity, (4) limits human access to the Arctic Ocean, and (5) serves as a platform for Indigenous community hunting and travel. The Sea of Ice. Ice extent reaches its minimum in February, when it dips to roughly 3-4 million square kilometers (about 1.2-1.5 million square miles). Compared to the Arctic, the signal has been a “noisy” one, with wide year–to-year fluctuations. In some places, sea ice melts completely in the summer. Because of the geographic and climatic diversity, Antarctic sea ice is more variable from year to year and climate oscillations don’t affect ice in all sectors the same way. Glacier acceleration has already been observed on the Antarctic Peninsula. Because it is already floating in the ocean, sea ice is already displacing its own weight. This graph shows the average monthly Arctic sea ice extent each September since 1979, derived from satellite observations. Because glacier acceleration introduces a new ice mass into the ocean, it can raise global sea levels. Consistent past half-century trends in the atmosphere, the sea ice and the ocean at high southern latitudes. When humans first walked the world, when nature ruled the earth and sky, a proud tribe is threatened by a series of natural disasters. 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