Nonlinear threshold behavior during the loss of Arctic sea ice.
In light of the rapid recent retreat of Arctic sea ice, a number of studies have discussed the possibility of a critical threshold (or "tipping point") beyond which the ice-albedo feedback causes the ice cover to melt away in an irreversible process. The focus has typically been centered o...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2009
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| _version_ | 1826266302096867328 |
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| author | Eisenman, I Wettlaufer, J |
| author_facet | Eisenman, I Wettlaufer, J |
| author_sort | Eisenman, I |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | In light of the rapid recent retreat of Arctic sea ice, a number of studies have discussed the possibility of a critical threshold (or "tipping point") beyond which the ice-albedo feedback causes the ice cover to melt away in an irreversible process. The focus has typically been centered on the annual minimum (September) ice cover, which is often seen as particularly susceptible to destabilization by the ice-albedo feedback. Here, we examine the central physical processes associated with the transition from ice-covered to ice-free Arctic Ocean conditions. We show that although the ice-albedo feedback promotes the existence of multiple ice-cover states, the stabilizing thermodynamic effects of sea ice mitigate this when the Arctic Ocean is ice covered during a sufficiently large fraction of the year. These results suggest that critical threshold behavior is unlikely during the approach from current perennial sea-ice conditions to seasonally ice-free conditions. In a further warmed climate, however, we find that a critical threshold associated with the sudden loss of the remaining wintertime-only sea ice cover may be likely. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T20:36:49Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:32eca7da-bfb9-4912-b6be-99a9246195b3 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T20:36:49Z |
| publishDate | 2009 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:32eca7da-bfb9-4912-b6be-99a9246195b32022-03-26T13:17:01ZNonlinear threshold behavior during the loss of Arctic sea ice.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:32eca7da-bfb9-4912-b6be-99a9246195b3EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2009Eisenman, IWettlaufer, JIn light of the rapid recent retreat of Arctic sea ice, a number of studies have discussed the possibility of a critical threshold (or "tipping point") beyond which the ice-albedo feedback causes the ice cover to melt away in an irreversible process. The focus has typically been centered on the annual minimum (September) ice cover, which is often seen as particularly susceptible to destabilization by the ice-albedo feedback. Here, we examine the central physical processes associated with the transition from ice-covered to ice-free Arctic Ocean conditions. We show that although the ice-albedo feedback promotes the existence of multiple ice-cover states, the stabilizing thermodynamic effects of sea ice mitigate this when the Arctic Ocean is ice covered during a sufficiently large fraction of the year. These results suggest that critical threshold behavior is unlikely during the approach from current perennial sea-ice conditions to seasonally ice-free conditions. In a further warmed climate, however, we find that a critical threshold associated with the sudden loss of the remaining wintertime-only sea ice cover may be likely. |
| spellingShingle | Eisenman, I Wettlaufer, J Nonlinear threshold behavior during the loss of Arctic sea ice. |
| title | Nonlinear threshold behavior during the loss of Arctic sea ice. |
| title_full | Nonlinear threshold behavior during the loss of Arctic sea ice. |
| title_fullStr | Nonlinear threshold behavior during the loss of Arctic sea ice. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nonlinear threshold behavior during the loss of Arctic sea ice. |
| title_short | Nonlinear threshold behavior during the loss of Arctic sea ice. |
| title_sort | nonlinear threshold behavior during the loss of arctic sea ice |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT eisenmani nonlinearthresholdbehaviorduringthelossofarcticseaice AT wettlauferj nonlinearthresholdbehaviorduringthelossofarcticseaice |