EESC BC 1001x Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Polar Vortex, Sea Ice, Arctic Air
Document Summary
Ice melts in summer and collects in the winter. This summer was highest loss in sea ice ever. Atmosphere of temperature and warming of ocean currents affect level of sea ice causing it to decrease. Loss of summer sea ice recorded since 1979. We"ve lost half of sea ice extent since early 1980"s. Ups and downs in sea ice arctic el nino. Everything about arctic is extreme, happening faster than anyone would have though. Arctic cold air is dense sinks coriolis effect: clockwise turning of ice polar vortex. Older ice tends to be deformed and more ice secreted on it and becomes thicker. Much harder to melt through thick ice than thin ice. Worried not only about sea ice but also glacier ice and land ice. Surface meltwater can make its way to the base of the glacier. Leading to increased calving- ice loss through iceberg formation. Greener arctic of recent years likely to be the new formal.