Observed relationship between Arctic sea ice, cloud, and solar radiation and its implication for ice-albedo feedback

Yong-Sang Choi1, Baek-Min Kim2, Sun-Kyong Hur3, Seong-Joong Kim4, Joo-Hong Kim5 and Chang-Hoi Ho3, (1)Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea, (2)KOPRI Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, South Korea, (3)Seoul National University, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South), (4)KOPRI Korea Polar Research Institute, Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Incheon, South Korea, (5)Korea Polar Research Institute, Division of Ocean and Atmosphere Sciences, Incheon, South Korea
Abstract:
This study demonstrates that absorbed solar radiation (ASR) at the top of the atmosphere in early summer (May–July) plays a precursory role in determining the Arctic sea ice concentration (SIC) in late summer (August–October). The monthly ASR anomalies are obtained over the Arctic Ocean (65°N–90°N) from the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System during 2000–2013. The ASR anomaly changes primarily with cloud variation that determines relative contributions of cloud and surface albedo to the ASR. We found that the ASR anomaly in early summer is significantly negatively correlated with the SIC anomaly in late summer (correlation coefficient, r ≈ –0.8 with a lag of 1 to 4 months). The region exhibiting high (low) ASR anomalies and low (high) SIC anomalies varies yearly. This intimate delayed ASR-SIC relationship is not represented in most of current climate models. Rather, the models tend to over-emphasize internal sea ice processes in summer. Implication of the observed results for ice-albedo feedback will be presented.
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