Spatial and temporal variations in the age structure of Arctic sea ice

Geophysical Research Letters
By: , and 

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Abstract

Spatial and temporal variations in the age structure of Arctic sea ice are investigated using a new reverse chronology algorithm that tracks ice-covered pixels to their location and date of origin based on ice motion and concentration data. The Beaufort Gyre tends to harbor the oldest (>10 years old) sea ice in the western Arctic while direct ice advection pathways toward the Transpolar Drift Stream maintain relatively young (10 years old (10+ year age class) were observed during 1989-2003. Since the mid-1990s, losses to the 10+ year age class lacked compensation by recruitment due to a prior depletion of all mature (6-10 year) age classes. Survival of the 1994 and 1996-1998 sea ice generations reestablished most mature age classes, and thereby the potential to increase extent of the 10+ year age class during the mid-2000s.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Spatial and temporal variations in the age structure of Arctic sea ice
Series title Geophysical Research Letters
DOI 10.1029/2005GL023976
Volume 32
Issue 18
Publication Date September 30, 2005
Year Published 2005
Language English
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Publisher location Washington D.C.
Contributing office(s) Alaska Science Center
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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