Long-lasting impact of winter North Atlantic Oscillation on Barents-Kara sea ice anomaly in recent decades

Abstract In this paper, the long-lasting impact of winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on Arctic sea ice is investigated using reanalysis data, with focus Barents–Kara (BK) where air-sea-ice response closely associated interdecadal shift in northern action center NAO. A significant negative correlation between NAO and late autumn BK has been dominant since early 2000s, which sharp contrast to extremely weak before 20th century. When retreats westward, a prevailing low-level southerly wind anomaly creates positive air temperature anomalies over sea, induced ocean current strengthens northward transport warm water, resulting upper-layer until spring. Entering summer, preexisting less-than-normal causes amount solar shortwave radiation absorbed by water significantly increase thereby continues up upper layer reduce ice. The warmed enables last owing its relatively large specific heat capacity. Thus, previous exerts