Snow cover on Arctic sea ice in observations and an Earth System Model. Issue 23 (14th December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blanchard‐Wrigglesworth, E.; Farrell, S. L.; Newman, T.; Bitz, C. M.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 42:Issue 23(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 10, 342
• Page End: 10, 348
• Publication Date: 2015-12-14
• Subjects: Arctic -- snow -- sea ice; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/2015GL066049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: Spring snow depth on Arctic sea ice is assessed in observations and an Earth System Model. In both, snow depth is mainly driven by the ice type on which the snow lies. Snow depths on multiyear ice are approximately double snow depths on first‐year ice. In the model spring snow depths are greater on multiyear ice compared to first‐year ice primarily because multiyear ice begins to accumulate snow earlier in the fall but also due to snow cover survival through the summer on multiyear ice. The model simulates a decline in spring snow depth driven mainly by a transition from a multiyear to first‐year ice regime throughout the Arctic. Agreement in the loss of multiyear ice in the model with estimates from observations suggests that declining snow depths in observations mainly result from the loss of multiyear sea ice. Key Points: Arctic snow depths show distinct distributions on multiyear and first‐year ice Model biases in summer snow depth affects model spring snow depth biases The trend in snow depth in first half of 21st century is mainly a result of shift from MY to FY ice