Canadian cryospheric response to an anomalous warm summer: A synthesis of the climate change action fund project “the state of the arctic cryosphere during the extreme warm summer of 1998”

Atkinson, David E.; Brown, Ross; Alt, B T; Agnew, T.; Bourgeois, J.; Burgess, M; Duguay, Claude R.; Henry, Gregory H.R.; Jeffers, Sharon; Koerner, R. M.; Lewkowicz, Antoni G.; McCourt, Steve; Melling, Humfrey; Sharp, Martin; Smith, Sharon L.; Walker, Anne; Wilson, K.; Wolfe, S A; Mk, Woo; Young, Kathy L.

doi:10.3137/ao.440403

Cited by 46 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…The observed changes in the Canadian cryosphere during the IPY period are consistent with trends identified in previous decades (e.g. Serreze et al 2000;Atkinson et al 2006), with increases in surface and lower tropospheric air temperatures the likely primary drivers of these changes. The observed changes are consistent with warming surface temperatures (Fig.…”

Section: The Cryosphere As An Integrated Systemsupporting

confidence: 74%

Variability and change in the Canadian cryosphere

et al. 2012

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During the International Polar Year (IPY), comprehensive observational research programs were undertaken to increase our understanding of the Canadian polar cryosphere response to a changing climate. Cryospheric components considered were snow, permafrost, sea ice, freshwater ice, glaciers and ice shelves. Enhancement of conventional observing systems and retrieval algorithms for satellite measurements facilitated development of a snapshot of current cryospheric conditions, providing a baseline against which future change can be assessed. Key findings include: 1. surface air temperatures across the Canadian Arctic exhibit a warming trend in all seasons over the past 40 years. A consistent pan-cryospheric response to these warming temperatures is evident through the analysis of multi-decadal datasets; 2. in recent years (including the IPY period) a higher rate of change was observed compared to previous decades including warming permafrost, reduction in snow cover extent and duration, reduction in summer sea ice extent, increased mass loss from glaciers, and thinning and break-up of the remaining Canadian ice shelves. These changes illustrate both a reduction in the spatial extent and mass of the cryosphere and an increase in the temporal persistence of melt related parameters. The observed changes in the cryosphere have important implications for human activity including the close ties of northerners to the land, access to northern regions for natural resource development, and the integrity of northern infrastructure.

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Section: The Cryosphere As An Integrated Systemsupporting

confidence: 74%

Variability and change in the Canadian cryosphere

et al. 2012

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“…3; updated from Atkinson et al 2006). Similarly, SWE increased over Eurasia and most of northern Russia for the 1966-2009 period (Bulygina et al 2010a), but decreased over northern Canada over the 1966-1996 period (Atkinson et al 2006). This contrast is surprising as both continents have experienced long-term increases in cold season precipitation (Table 1; Figs.…”

Section: Snow Depth Snow Water Equivalent Snow Cover Duration and Ementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Pacific North America (PNA) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) have been shown to influence climate and snow cover over the western Canadian Arctic (Derksen et al 2008b) with positive (negative) modes of the PNA and PDO associated with reduced (increased) snow accumulation and a shorter (longer) snow cover season. 19501954195819621966197019741978198219861990199419982002SCD anomaly wrt 1971-2000(days) 1950195419581962196619701974197819821986199019941998 Radionov et al (2004a) Defined by Radionov et al (1996) as the duration of the period with continuous snow cover (50% or more of the visible area is reported as 'snow covered') a Computed from Canadian and Alaskan daily snow depth data with SCD defined as the number of days in the snow season with daily snow depths C2 cm following Brown and Goodison (1996) …”

Section: Snow Depth Snow Water Equivalent Snow Cover Duration and Ementioning

confidence: 99%

The Changing Face of Arctic Snow Cover: A Synthesis of Observed and Projected Changes

Callaghan

Johansson

Brown

et al. 2011

AMBIO

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Analysis of in situ and satellite data shows evidence of different regional snow cover responses to the widespread warming and increasing winter precipitation that has characterized the Arctic climate for the past 40-50 years. The largest and most rapid decreases in snow water equivalent (SWE) and snow cover duration (SCD) are observed over maritime regions of the Arctic with the highest precipitation amounts. There is also evidence of marked differences in the response of snow cover between the North American and Eurasian sectors of the Arctic, with the North American sector exhibiting decreases in snow cover and snow depth over the entire period of available in situ observations from around 1950, while widespread decreases in snow cover are not apparent over Eurasia until after around 1980. However, snow depths are increasing in many regions of Eurasia. Warming and more frequent winter thaws are contributing to changes in snow pack structure with important implications for land use and provision of ecosystem services. Projected changes in snow cover from Global Climate Models for the 2050 period indicate increases in maximum SWE of up to 15% over much of the Arctic, with the largest increases (15-30%) over the Siberian sector. In contrast, SCD is projected to decrease by about 10-20% over much of the Arctic, with the smallest decreases over Siberia (\10%) and the largest decreases over Alaska and northern Scandinavia (30-40%) by 2050. These projected changes will have far-reaching consequences for the climate system, human activities, hydrology, and ecology.

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“…Interestingly, the driving processes behind the 1998 and 2007 minima were very different. Atmospheric circulation during the summer months of 1998 allowed predominantly warm southerly air masses to flow over the CAA (Atkinson et al, 2006). The resultant anomalously warm SAT and restriction of Arctic Ocean MYI inflow into the CAA combined to gradually ablate the thicker MYI over a longer than normal melt season .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent extreme light sea ice years in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago: 2011 and 2012 eclipse 1998 and 2007

et al. 2013

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Abstract. Remarkably low mean September sea ice area in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) was observed in 2011 (146 × 103 km2), a record-breaking level that was nearly exceeded in 2012 (150 × 103 km2). These values were lower than previous September records set in 1998 (200 × 103 km2) and 2007 (220 × 103 km2), and are ∼60% lower than the 1981–2010 mean September climatology. In this study, the processes contributing to the extreme light years of 2011 and 2012 were investigated, compared to previous extreme minima of 1998 and 2007, and contrasted against historic summer seasons with above average September ice area. The 2011 minimum was associated with positive June through September (JJAS) surface air temperature (SAT) and net solar radiation (K*) anomalies that facilitated rapid melt, coupled with atmospheric circulation that restricted multi-year ice (MYI) inflow from the Arctic Ocean into the CAA. The 2012 minimum was also associated with positive JJAS SAT and K* anomalies with coincident rapid melt, but further ice decline was temporarily mitigated by atmospheric circulation which drove Arctic Ocean MYI inflow into the CAA. Atmospheric circulation was comparable between 2011 and 1998 (impeding Arctic Ocean MYI inflow) and 2012 and 2007 (inducing Arctic Ocean MYI inflow). However, preconditioning was more apparent leading up to 2011 and 2012 than 1998 and 2007. The rapid melt process in 2011 and 2012 was more intense than observed in 1998 and 2007 because of the thinner ice cover being more susceptible to anomalous thermodynamic forcing. The thinner sea ice cover within the CAA in recent years has also helped counteract the processes that facilitate extreme heavy ice years. The recent extreme light years within the CAA are associated with a longer navigation season within the Northwest Passage.

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Canadian cryospheric response to an anomalous warm summer: A synthesis of the climate change action fund project “the state of the arctic cryosphere during the extreme warm summer of 1998”

Cited by 46 publications

References 51 publications

Variability and change in the Canadian cryosphere

Variability and change in the Canadian cryosphere

The Changing Face of Arctic Snow Cover: A Synthesis of Observed and Projected Changes

Recent extreme light sea ice years in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago: 2011 and 2012 eclipse 1998 and 2007

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