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September Arctic sea-ice minimum predicted by spring melt-pond fraction
Schröder, D.; Feltham, D.L.; Flocco, D.; Tsamados, M. (2014). September Arctic sea-ice minimum predicted by spring melt-pond fraction. Nat. Clim. Chang. 4(5): 353-357. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2203
In: Nature Climate Change. Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 1758-678X; e-ISSN 1758-6798, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keyword
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Schröder, D.
  • Feltham, D.L.
  • Flocco, D.
  • Tsamados, M.

Abstract
    The area of Arctic September sea ice has diminished from about 7 million km2 in the 1990s to less than 5 million km2 in five of the past seven years, with a record minimum of 3.6 million km2 in 2012. The strength of this decrease is greater than expected by the scientific community, the reasons for this are not fully understood, and its simulation is an on-going challenge for existing climate models. With growing Arctic marine activity there is an urgent demand for forecasting Arctic summer sea ice. Previous attempts at seasonal forecasts of ice extent were of limited skill. However, here we show that the Arctic sea-ice minimum can be accurately forecasted from melt-pond area in spring. We find a strong correlation between the spring pond fraction and September sea-ice extent. This is explained by a positive feedback mechanism: more ponds reduce the albedo; a lower albedo causes more melting; more melting increases pond fraction. Our results help explain the acceleration of Arctic sea-ice decrease during the past decade. The inclusion of our new melt-pond model promises to improve the skill of future forecast and climate models in Arctic regions and beyond.

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