Arctic “Last Ice Area” Less Resilient to Warming than Previously Estimated

Nature Communications, July 1

Record low sea ice was observed in summer 2020 in the Wandel Sea, just north of Greenland. This region is the easternmost sector of the so-called “Last Ice Area,” known for its old, thick, multi-year sea ice. Climate model simulations did not predict low sea ice concentration in this area until several decades of additional warming in the future. However, new sea ice model experiments and satellite data analyses reveal that the combination of sea ice thinning from ocean warming; stronger winds transporting sea ice out of the region; and subsequent melt could be key factors behind the unexpectedly low 2020 minimum. The implications of this study may be relevant to the entire Last Ice Area region. Loss of this multiyear sea ice would impact ice-dependent species, human communities and traditional activities in the area.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-021-00197-5