Record-breaking low Arctic sea ice extent during the winter of 2016, as captured in a video clip.
The Arctic has witnessed a record low wintertime maximum extent of sea ice for the second consecutive year, according to observations made by Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
This year's maximum extent was 431,000 square miles below the 1981 to 2010 average maximum extent, marking a significant decline. Since 1979, there has been a loss of 620,000 square miles of winter sea ice cover, an area more than twice the size of Texas.
The warm air from the south was brought to the Arctic, preventing the expansion of the ice cover. This was further compounded by unfavorable wind patterns during January and February, which hindered ice growth.
The warming ocean waters are likely to play a bigger role in the future trend of Arctic maximum extents. The loss of winter sea ice contributes to areas of unusually warm air temperatures in the Arctic, which also experience increased evaporation, leading to increased cloudiness. This further warms the surface in winter.
The record low winter maximum does not guarantee a subsequent record low summertime minimum extent. Summer weather conditions have a larger impact on the outcome of each year's melt season compared to the extent of the winter maximum. Warm temperatures and summer storms accelerate the ice melt, while cool summers slow it down.
It's important to note that Arctic sea ice plays a crucial role in maintaining Earth's temperature by reflecting solar energy that the ocean would otherwise absorb, especially in the summer. The new record low follows record high temperatures in December, January, and February globally and in the Arctic.
The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) is involved in recording the record low extent of Arctic sea ice during the winter maximum. The atmospheric warmth probably contributed to the lowest maximum extent. As winter sea ice disappears, areas of unusually warm air temperatures in the Arctic will expand.
Areas of open water due to missing sea ice put more heat into the atmosphere because the air is much colder than unfrozen sea water. These warm areas also experience increased evaporation, leading to increased cloudiness which further warms the surface in winter.
In the winter, the impact of missing sea ice is mostly felt in the atmosphere. However, as the ice continues to melt, the consequences will likely extend beyond the Arctic and impact global climate patterns.
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