TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - The role of cyclone activity in snow accumulation on Arctic sea ice
JO  - Nature communications
A1  - Webster, M. A.
A1  - Parker, C.
A1  - Boisvert, L.
A1  - Kwok, R.
SP  - 5285
EP  - 5285
VL  - 10
IS  - 1
N2  - Identifying the mechanisms controlling the timing and magnitude of snow accumulation on sea ice is crucial for understanding snow's net effect on the surface energy budget and sea-ice mass balance. Here, we analyze the role of cyclone activity on the seasonal buildup of snow on Arctic sea ice using model, satellite, and in situ data over 1979-2016. On average, 44% of the variability in monthly snow accumulation was controlled by cyclone snowfall and 29% by sea-ice freeze-up. However, there were strong spatio-temporal differences. Cyclone snowfall comprised ~50% of total snowfall in the Pacific compared to 83% in the Atlantic. While cyclones are stronger in the Atlantic, Pacific snow accumulation is more sensitive to cyclone strength. These findings highlight the heterogeneity in atmosphere-snow-ice interactions across the Arctic, and emphasize the need to scrutinize mechanisms governing cyclone activity to better understand their effects on the Arctic snow-ice system with anthropogenic warming.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2041-1723
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-13299-8
ID  - ref1
ER  -