Science Source

Greater role for Atlantic inflows on sea-ice loss in the Eurasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean

States that Arctic sea-ice loss is a leading indicator of climate change and can be attributed, in large part, to atmospheric forcing
Shows that recent ice reductions, weakening of the halocline, and shoaling of intermediate-depth Atlantic Water layer in the eastern Eurasian Basin have increased winter ventilation in the ocean interior, making this region structurally similar to that of the western Eurasian Basin
Finds the associated enhanced release of oceanic heat has reduced winter sea-ice formation at a rate now comparable to losses from atmospheric thermodynamic forcing, thus explaining the recent reduction in sea-ice cover in the eastern Eurasian Basin
Concludes that this encroaching “atlantification” of the Eurasian Basin represents an essential step toward a new Arctic climate state, with a substantially greater role for Atlantic inflows