Seasonal sea ice changes in the Amundsen Sea, Antarctica, over the period of 1979–2014

• DOI: 10.12952/journal.elementa.000055
• Publication Date: 2015-06-30T15:14:06Z
• Authors: S. E. Stammerjohn; T. Maksym; R. A. Massom; K. E. Lowry; K. R. Arrigo; X. Yuan; M. Raphael; E. Randall-Goodwin; R. M. Sherrell; P. L. Yager
• Keywords: Fast ice; Iceberg

Abstract Recent attention has focused on accelerated glacial losses along the Amundsen Sea coast that result from changes in atmosphere and ocean circulation, with sea ice playing a mediating but not well-understood role. Here, we investigated how changed over period of 1979 to 2014, focusing spatio-temporal edge advance/retreat percent cover relation winds. In contrast widespread decreases east increases west Sea, were confined three areas: (i) offshore shelf break, (ii) southern Pine Island Polynya, (iii) eastern Polynya. Offshore, 2-month decrease season duration coincided seasonal shifts wind speed direction March May (relating later advance) September August earlier retreat), consistent reported depth/location Low. contrast, polynya areas corresponded episodic or step spring retreat (earlier by 1–2 months) coincident Thwaites Iceberg Tongue (located between two polynyas) increased southeasterly Temporal correlations among these weak, indicating different local forcing and/or differential response large-scale forcing. Although our analysis shown part variability can be explained winds coastal icescape, an additional unknown factor is responded heat freshwater inputs. Unraveling cause effect, critical for predicting this rapidly evolving ocean-ice shelf-sea system, will require situ observations, improved remote sensing capabilities modeling.