Arctic sea ice motion change and response to atmospheric forcing between 1979 and 2019

• DOI: 10.1002/joc.7340
• Publication Date: 2021-08-14T07:31:08Z
• Authors: Fanyi Zhang; Xiaoping Pang; Ruibo Lei; Mengxi Zhai; Xi Zhao; Qiongqiong Cai
• Keywords: Arctic dipole anomaly; Fast ice; Forcing (mathematics); Arctic oscillation

Abstract Quantification of the spatial variability and long‐term changes Arctic sea ice motion is important for understanding mechanisms rapid decline because determines mass advection, outflow, thickness redistribution, as well formation leads ridges associated with deformation. The spatiotemporal in between 1979 2019 their responses to atmospheric forcing were analysed using satellite‐derived products reanalysis data. pan‐Arctic average drift speed increased significantly all seasons ( p < .001). Rates increase higher autumn winter than spring summer. Spatially, rates peripheral seas Pacific sector—the Beaufort, Chukchi East Siberian Seas—were central Ocean Atlantic Kara Laptev Seas. On contrary, wind only .01). However, correlation was lowest this season, suggesting that unable completely account increase. In general, trends above‐average speeds—retrieved from grid cells relatively high speeds—were statistically significant larger speeds probably enhanced response extreme forcing. influence Oscillation, Beaufort High, North Oscillation on zonal symmetrical sectors Ocean, while Dipole Anomaly east–west surface air pressure gradient meridional distributed an annular pattern strongest along Transpolar Drift Stream.