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Observed Changes in the Sea Ice CoverSatellite passive microwave data from November 1998 through October 2002 are used to evaluate the changing characteristics and the variability of the sea ice cover in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Large seasonal changes in the extent and area are apparent with those of the Southern Hemisphere being more seasonal but less symmetric than those of the Northern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, the ice cover is observed to be on a decline at the rate of -2% and -3% per decade for ice extent and ice area, respectively, but there are areas like the Bering Sea with strong positive trends. It is remarkable. however, that the rate of decline of the perennial ice cover. or ice area at the end of the summer, is considerably larger at -9% per decade. If such a rate of decline is sustained for a few more decades, the perennial ice cover may disappear within this century. In the Antarctic, large year to year anomalies in the ice cover are observed but they follow a pattern of alternating positive and negative anomalies around the continent and showing consistency with a propagating Antarctic Circumpolar wave that circles around the region. Large negative trends of about - 11% per decade are, however, observed in the Bellingshausen/Amundsen Seas but this is offset by a similar magnitude but positive trend in the Ross Sea region. Overall, the trend for the entire Antarctic ice cover is positive but basically insignificant.
Document ID
20040081178
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Comiso, Josefino C.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Meeting Information
Meeting: WCRP Meetings
Location: Victoria, British Columbia
Country: Canada
Start Date: October 14, 2003
End Date: October 17, 2003
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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