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Atmospheric-driven state transfer of shore-fast ice in the northeastern Kara Sea
Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø, Norway
Norwegian Defense Research Establishment, Kjeller, Norway
International Arctic Research Center, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
Faculty of Science, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Frequencies of observed occurrences of shore-fast ice in the northeastern Kara Sea for each month during 1953–1990 reveal a multimodality of shore-fast ice extent in late winter and spring. The fast ice extent exhibits mainly three different configurations (modes) associated with the regional topography of coasts and islands. These modes show fast ice areas equal to approximately 98 ± 6, 122 ± 6, and 136 ± 8 1000 km2. Analysis of the time series of fast ice extent shows that favorable conditions for expansion of fast ice seaward in winter and spring are met if the atmospheric circulation over the northeastern Kara Sea is controlled by the Arctic high, resulting in offshore winds and a significant (up to 6°C) decrease of the monthly mean surface air temperature. In contrast, the penetration of the Icelandic low into the Kara Sea, accompanied by Arctic cyclones coming from the west, is responsible for the partial breakup and decrease of fast ice extent in winter or spring.
Received 9 September 2004; accepted 2 June 2005; published 21 September 2005.
Citation: (2005), Atmospheric-driven state transfer of shore-fast ice in the northeastern Kara Sea, J. Geophys. Res., 110, C09013, doi:10.1029/2004JC002706.
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