Arctic Dipole as primary driver of summer LKF variability in a high-resolution ice-ocean model

Zhang Qi; Mu longjiang; Nils Hutter; Li Tao; Wang xiaoyu; Chen Xianyao

doi:10.12284/hyxb20260028

Volume 48 Issue 4

Apr. 2026

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Zhang Qi，Mu longjiang，Nils Hutter, et al. Arctic Dipole as primary driver of summer LKF variability in a high-resolution ice-ocean model[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2026, 48(4)：35–46 doi: 10.12284/hyxb20260028

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Arctic Dipole as primary driver of summer LKF variability in a high-resolution ice-ocean model

doi: 10.12284/hyxb20260028

Zhang Qi^{1, 2
,},
Mu longjiang^{2
,
,},
Nils Hutter³,
Li Tao¹,
Wang xiaoyu¹,
Chen Xianyao¹

1.
Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
2.
Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao 266100, China
3.
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Hamburg 20146, Germany

Received Date: 2026-02-12
Rev Recd Date: 2026-04-28

Available Online: 2026-06-12

Publish Date: 2026-04-30

Abstract

Abstract

Observational limitations constrain long-term studies of Arctic linear kinematic features (LKFs). This study systematically analyzes the long-term changes of Arctic LKFs and their climate drivers using a 28-year, ~2 km resolution pan-Arctic sea ice-ocean simulation, validated against winter RGPS data (1996–2008). We find no pronounced trend in pan-Arctic LKF number or density, though a very weak increase (0.003 a⁻¹) aligns with thinning-enhanced fracturing. Modeled winter LKF density correlates well with RGPS observations (r = 0.57), confirming the model’s reliability in capturing the spatial distribution and seasonal variations of LKFs. Summer LKF density shows a strong negative correlation with the Arctic Dipole (AD) (r = −0.66), exceeding the Arctic Oscillation (AO) influence. While both AO and AD correlate negatively with LKF density in the central Arctic, LKF density correlates positively with AO but negatively with AD in the Kara Sea and Barents Sea, resulting in an overall stronger negative correlation with AD.
- Arctic linear kinematic features,
- Arctic Dipole,
- sea ice deformation,
- high-resolution ice-ocean model

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References

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