Abstract
The climate normal, that is, the latest three full-decade average, of Arctic sea ice parameters is useful for baselining the sea ice state. A baseline ice state on both regional and local scales is important for monitoring how the current regional and local states depart from their normal to understand the vulnerability of marine and sea ice-based ecosystems to the changing climate conditions. Combined with up-to-date observations and reliable projections, normals are essential to business strategic planning, climate adaptation and risk mitigation. In this paper, monthly and annual climate normals of sea ice parameters (concentration, area, and extent) of the whole Arctic Ocean and 15 regional divisions are derived for the period of 1981–2010 using monthly satellite sea ice concentration estimates from a climate data record (CDR) produced by NOAA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). Basic descriptions and characteristics of the normals are provided. Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis has been utilized to describe spatial modes of sea ice concentration variability and how the corresponding principal components change over time. To provide users with basic information on data product accuracy and uncertainty, the climate normal values of Arctic sea ice extents (SIE) are compared with that of other products, including a product from NSIDC and two products from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The SIE differences between different products are in the range of 2.3–4.5% of the CDR SIE mean. Additionally, data uncertainty estimates are represented by using the range (the difference between the maximum and minimum), standard deviation, 10th and 90th percentiles, and the first, second, and third quartile distribution of all monthly values, a distinct feature of these sea ice normal products.
Highlights
Arctic sea ice coverage has been undergoing rapid depletion since satellite-based measurements became available in the late 1970s, especially the summer ice coverage, e.g., [1,2,3]
Arctic summer circulation may contribute to regional sea ice anomalies [5]
Spatial sea ice variability may lead to a large spread in climate model sea ice area projections and induces high uncertainty on regional scales [6]
Summary
Arctic sea ice coverage has been undergoing rapid depletion since satellite-based measurements became available in the late 1970s, especially the summer ice coverage, e.g., [1,2,3]. Spatial sea ice variability may lead to a large spread in climate model sea ice area projections and induces high uncertainty on regional scales [6]. Superimposed on this strong downward trend is the pronounced inter-annual variability and those two characteristics are essentially not correlated [7]. To provide users with basic quality and uncertainty information on the data product, the climate normal values of Arctic sea ice extents (SIE) from the CDR are compared with those of another product from NSIDC and two products from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). Data uncertainty is represented by using the range (the difference between the maximum and minimum), standard deviation, and 10th and 90th percentiles and quartile distribution of all monthly values
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