Science Source

On the emergence of an Arctic amplification signal in terrestrial Arctic snow extent

Searches for any link between changes in Arctic sea ice and Northern Hemisphere snow cover
Analyses of observational data sets suggest that the increasing snow cover over Siberia during fall and early winter is correlated with the decreasing September Arctic sea ice over the Pacific sector.
Examines modeled covariance between sea ice and snow using historical and future simulations of the Community Climate System Model (CCSM3)
Results indicate the emergence of a Siberian snow signal during the last half of the 21st century most strongly during late winter
CCSM3 future simulations show diminishment of snow at a hemispheric scale outside of the Siberian region, which is correlated with the loss of Arctic sea ice
These results indicate that we may be seeing the first, albeit weak, signs of “Arctic amplification” on the terrestrial Arctic snowpack; that only a weak and therefore inconclusive signal would be expected at this time; and that the signal should strengthen over the coming decades