2 thoughts on “Sea Ice Extent (Global Antarctic and Arctic) – Day 312”
I looked at the wind structure surrounding Antarctica on the website earth.nullschool.net and was surprised by how many potent storm systems are currently circling the continent. I am also assuming that because of the rigorous ocean wave action on ice as a result that it explains the normalization of Antarctic sea ice this year compared to the last two years. Has there been any confirmation from NOAA regarding lower winds on sea ice formation as an explanation for record extents in 2013-2014?
There are always strong winds around Antarctica, if you look at the NSIDC map for ice extent daily you’ll notice the ice moving / bulging around the continent as if pushed by a strong wind in the clockwise direction
This is normal there due to the large mass of oceans around the continent that allow the atmosphere move over the surfaced unimpeded.
I think the increased ice of recent years is due to progressive cooling of the region (the entire S Hemisphere has been cooling in recent years, specially the oceans), http://data.remss.com/msu/monthly_time_series/RSS_Monthly_MSU_AMSU_Channel_TLT_Anomalies_Land_and_Ocean_v03_3.txt
The difference in 2015 with respect to previous years, since ~2011, is the strong warming of central Pacific (El NIno) that is taking its toll on the ice extent.
I believe this will cease in a few months, the extent is already not so low as a couple of months ago, but it’s not yet as high as in 2013 and 14.
sunshine hours 
I looked at the wind structure surrounding Antarctica on the website earth.nullschool.net and was surprised by how many potent storm systems are currently circling the continent. I am also assuming that because of the rigorous ocean wave action on ice as a result that it explains the normalization of Antarctic sea ice this year compared to the last two years. Has there been any confirmation from NOAA regarding lower winds on sea ice formation as an explanation for record extents in 2013-2014?
There are always strong winds around Antarctica, if you look at the NSIDC map for ice extent daily you’ll notice the ice moving / bulging around the continent as if pushed by a strong wind in the clockwise direction
This is normal there due to the large mass of oceans around the continent that allow the atmosphere move over the surfaced unimpeded.
I think the increased ice of recent years is due to progressive cooling of the region (the entire S Hemisphere has been cooling in recent years, specially the oceans),
http://data.remss.com/msu/monthly_time_series/RSS_Monthly_MSU_AMSU_Channel_TLT_Anomalies_Land_and_Ocean_v03_3.txt
The difference in 2015 with respect to previous years, since ~2011, is the strong warming of central Pacific (El NIno) that is taking its toll on the ice extent.
I believe this will cease in a few months, the extent is already not so low as a couple of months ago, but it’s not yet as high as in 2013 and 14.