Variability in Polar Sea Ice (1989–2018)

Abstract

This study is based on daily sea-ice concentration (SIC) data collected from the National Snow and Ice Data Center between 1989 and 2018. We analyzed the concentration, total sea ice extent (SIE), multiyear ice extent, and first- and second-year ice extent of Polar (Arctic and Antarctic) sea ice. The results showed that, over the analyzed 30 year span, the spatial distribution of SIC decreased in the Arctic, while it showed high regional variability within the Antarctic. The total SIE decreased in the polar regions at a rate of - 0.051 ×10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">6</sup> km <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> yr <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-1</sup> (-2.07% per decade) and the multiyear ice extent at a rate of -0.086×10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">6</sup> km <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> yr <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-1</sup> (-12.31% per decade), while the first- and second-year ice extent increased at a rate of 0.054 × 10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">6</sup> km <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> yr <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-1</sup> (2.13% per decade).