Serreze, M. C., Barrett, A. P., Stroeve, J. C., Kindig, D. N., Holland, M. M.

The Cryosphere

Published date February 4, 2009

The emergence of surface-based Arctic amplification

  • States that rises in surface and lower troposphere air temperatures through the 21st century are projected to be especially pronounced over the Arctic Ocean during the cold season
  • States that this Arctic amplification is largely driven by loss of the sea ice cover, allowing for strong heat transfers from the ocean to the atmosphere
  • Finds that fields from both the NCEP/NCAR and JRA-25 reanalyses point to emergence of surface-based Arctic amplification in the last decade, consistent with observed reductions in sea ice extent