First observations of a transient polynya in the last ice area north of ellesmere island
Type: Journal Article Venue: Geophysical Research Letters Year: 2021
Abstract
Abstract The area to the north of Ellesmere Island and Greenland contains the Arctic’s thickest ice and it is predicted to be the last to lose its perennial ice, thus providing an important refuge for ice-dependent species. There is however evidence that this Last Ice Area is, like the entire Arctic, undergoing rapid changes that may reduce its suitability as a refuge. During May 2020, a polynya developed to the north of Ellesmere Island in a region where there are no reports of a previous development. We use a variety of remotely sensed data as well as an atmospheric reanalysis to document the evolution and the dynamics responsible for the polynya. In particular, we argue that anomalously strong divergent winds associated with an intense and long-lived Arctic anti-cyclone contributed to the development of the polynya as well as similar previously unreported events in May 1988 and 2004.
Citation
G. W. K. Moore, S. E. L. Howell, and M. Brady (2021). First observations of a transient polynya in the last ice area north of ellesmere island. Geophysical Research Letters. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095099
BibTeX
@article{moore_first_2021,
title = {First Observations of a Transient Polynya in the Last Ice Area North of Ellesmere Island},
volume = {48},
url = {https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2021GL095099},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095099},
abstract = {Abstract The area to the north of Ellesmere Island and Greenland contains the Arctic's thickest ice and it is predicted to be the last to lose its perennial ice, thus providing an important refuge for ice-dependent species. There is however evidence that this Last Ice Area is, like the entire Arctic, undergoing rapid changes that may reduce its suitability as a refuge. During May 2020, a polynya developed to the north of Ellesmere Island in a region where there are no reports of a previous development. We use a variety of remotely sensed data as well as an atmospheric reanalysis to document the evolution and the dynamics responsible for the polynya. In particular, we argue that anomalously strong divergent winds associated with an intense and long-lived Arctic anti-cyclone contributed to the development of the polynya as well as similar previously unreported events in May 1988 and 2004.},
pages = {e2021GL095099},
number = {17},
journaltitle = {Geophysical Research Letters},
author = {Moore, G. W. K. and Howell, S. E. L. and Brady, M.},
date = {2021-08-18},
note = {\_eprint: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2021GL095099},
keywords = {Last Ice Area, polynya},
}