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The Cryosphere
The contribution of cloud and radiation anomalies to the 2007 Arctic sea ice extent minimum
Article first published online: 22 APR 2008
DOI: 10.1029/2008GL033451
Copyright 2008 by the American Geophysical Union.
Additional Information
How to Cite
, , , , and (2008), The contribution of cloud and radiation anomalies to the 2007 Arctic sea ice extent minimum, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L08503, doi:10.1029/2008GL033451.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 22 APR 2008
- Article first published online: 22 APR 2008
- Manuscript Accepted: 13 MAR 2008
- Manuscript Revised: 7 MAR 2008
- Manuscript Received: 29 JAN 2008
Keywords:
- Arctic sea ice;
- radiation;
- clouds
[1] Reduced cloudiness and enhanced downwelling radiation are associated with the unprecedented 2007 Arctic sea ice loss. Over the Western Arctic Ocean, total summertime cloud cover estimated from spaceborne radar and lidar data decreased by 16% from 2006 to 2007. The clearer skies led to downwelling shortwave (longwave) radiative fluxes increases of +32 Wm−2 (−4 Wm−2) from 2006 to 2007. Over three months, simple calculations show that these radiation differences alone could enhance surface ice melt by 0.3 m, or warm the surface ocean by 2.4 K, which enhances basal ice melt. Increased air temperatures and decreased relative humidity associated with an anti-cyclonic atmospheric circulation pattern explain the reduced cloudiness. Longer-term observations show that the 2007 cloudiness is anomalous in the recent past, but is not unprecedented. Thus, in a warmer world with thinner ice, natural summertime circulation and cloud variability is an increasingly important control on sea ice extent minima.