The Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (ARCUS) invites registration for the next Arctic Research Seminar featuring Kent Moore, Professor of Phy sics and Vice-Principal Research at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Dr. Moore’s presentation, titled Anomalous Collapses of Nares Stra it Ice Arches Leads to Enhanced Export of Arctic Sea Ice, will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, 16 February 2021 at 9:00 a.m. AKST (1:00 p.m. EST).
Seminar Abstract:
The ice arches that usually develop at the northern and southern ends of Nares Str ait play an important role in modulating the export of multi-year sea ice o ut of the Arctic Ocean. As a result of global warming, the Arctic Oce an is evolving towards an ice pack that is younger, thinner, and more mobil e and the fate of its multi-year ice is becoming of increasing interest to both the scientific and policy communities. Here, we use sea ice motion ret rievals derived from Sentinel-1 imagery to report on recent behaviour of th ese ice arches and the associated ice flux. In addition to the previously i dentified early collapse of the northern ice arch in May 2017, we report th at this arch failed to develop during the winters of 2018 and 2019. In cont rast, we report that the southern ice arch was only present for a short per iod of time during the winter of 2018 as well as for a more extended period during the winter of 2020. We also show that the duration of arch formatio n has decreased over the past 20 years as ice in the region has thinned, wh ile the ice area and volume fluxes have both increased. These results sugge st that a transition is underway towards a state where the formation of the se arches will become atypical with a concomitant increase in the export of multi-year ice accelerating the transition towards a younger and thinner A rctic ice pack.
Registration is required for this event. Instructions for accessing the webinar will be sent to registr ants prior to the event.
To register for the event, go to:
Arctic Research Seminar Series webpage
For questions,
contact:
Stacey Stoudt
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