Abstract
Abstract. This paper presents an investigation of the robustness of correlations between characteristics of Arctic summer cyclones and September Arctic sea ice extent. A cyclone identification and tracking algorithm is run for output from 100-year coupled climate model simulations at two resolutions and for 30 years of reanalysis data, using two different tracking variables (mean sea-level pressure, MSLP; and 850 hPa vorticity) for identification of the cyclones. The influence of the tracking variable, the spatial resolution of the model, and spatial and temporal sampling on the correlations is then explored. We conclude that the correlations obtained depend on all of these factors and that care should be taken when interpreting the results of such analyses. Previous studies of this type have used around 30 years of reanalysis and observational data, analysed with a single tracking variable. Our results therefore cast some doubt on the conclusions drawn in those studies.
Highlights
Sea ice is an important part of the climate system due to the key role it plays in the energy balance of the polar regions
While some of the correlations we found between cyclone characteristics and September ice extent are consistent with results published by other authors (Simmonds and Keay, 2009; Screen et al, 2011), there are others that cannot be explained in relation to those studies
The positive correlation found between ERA-Interim mean sea-level pressure (MSLP)-based intensity in May and September HadISST1.2 ice extent could be consistent with the findings of Screen et al (2011), their focus was on track count rather than cyclone intensity
Summary
Sea ice is an important part of the climate system due to the key role it plays in the energy balance of the polar regions. Ice melting and growth impacts the ocean temperature through heat exchange, and ocean stratification is affected through salinity changes. Arctic sea ice has undergone substantial changes since satellite-based passive microwave observations first became available nearly four decades ago. The Arctic sea ice extent reached record lows in 2007 and 2012. In both years, preconditioning through thinning over several decades had made the ice more susceptible to dramatic reductions (Zhang et al, 2008; Parkinson and Comiso, 2013; Babb et al, 2016)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
