A review of the researches on the record low Antarctic sea ice in 2016 and its formation mechanisms

Li Shuanglin; Han Zhe; Liu Na; Zhang Chao; Cai Hui

doi:10.12284/hyxb2021119

Volume 43 Issue 7

Jul. 2021

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Li Shuanglin，Han Zhe，Liu Na, et al. A review of the researches on the record low Antarctic sea ice in 2016 and its formation mechanisms[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2021, 43(7)：1–10 doi: 10.12284/hyxb2021119

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A review of the researches on the record low Antarctic sea ice in 2016 and its formation mechanisms

doi: 10.12284/hyxb2021119

Li Shuanglin^{1, 2
,},
Han Zhe²,
Liu Na²,
Zhang Chao¹,
Cai Hui¹

1.
Department of Atmospheric Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
2.
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China

Funds: Funded by the Strategic Project of Chinese Academy of Science (Grant XDA19070402)

Received Date: 2020-12-31
Rev Recd Date: 2021-04-27

Available Online: 2021-06-16

Publish Date: 2021-07-25

Abstract

Abstract

Along with the global warming, the sea ice in the Arctic decreased rapidly, however the sea ice in the Antarctic has experienced a weak expansion. While many researchers are studying the mechanisms for this paradox in the Antarctic, the sea ice extent (SIE) began a rapid decline in 2016 and reached a record low in austral spring 2016. A rapid decrease of SIE anomaly occurred in December, with a 20.5% (2.13$ \times $10⁶ km²) reduction compared with the long-term (1981−2010) mean (10.41$ \times $10⁶ km²). It attracted a lot of attentions and scientists have investigated the causes of its occurrence from various aspects, such as the atmosphere circulations, the thermal state of the ocean, the polynya and so on. Their main results are summarized in this review. On the atmospheric aspect, the general circulation signals include a zonal height anomalies chain with wave number three during September and October, a Southern Annular Mode anomaly during November and December, and intensified cyclonic activity. The atmospheric zonal wave number three is modulated by the sea surface temperature anomalies in the tropical Pacific and Indian Ocean, and the Southern Annular Mode anomaly is mainly a result of downward weakening stratospheric polar vortex. On the ocean aspect, the upper ocean temperature is warmer than normal, and there is a large polynya in the Weddell Sea, which has the greatest area in the period of 1976−2016. However, it is difficult to identify the relative contributions of the external forcings of the climate system, the internal variability of the climate system, or their collaborative roles. We hope the summary can be useful to improve the understanding of the changes of Antarctic sea ice and its origins.
- Antarctic,
- sea ice decrease,
- 2016,
- record low,
- physical mechanisms

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References(61)

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