• Question: •What are the broad-scale time-varying distributions of the ice and snow-cover thickness, ice composition and other physical characteristics in the Antarctic sea ice zone?

    Asked by tiarobert to Clare, Dave, Glo, Ozge, Sean on 17 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Clare Woulds

      Clare Woulds answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      That’s a very specific question, and I’m afraid it’s too far from my field for me to give a good answer. I’d have a look on the internet at sites like the IPCC.

    • Photo: Sean Clement

      Sean Clement answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Like Clare, I’m going to have to say I don’t know!

    • Photo: Dave Sproson

      Dave Sproson answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Wow, this is a really detailed, specific question and I’m not sure I’ll be able to answer it all! I can say a little bit about the sea-ice though!

      The sea-ice cover in the Antarctic varies on all sorts of time scales. Firstly there is the difference between summer and winter, where sea-ice forms due to freezing in the winter and then melts again. In the summer nearly all of the sea-ice melts (usually the minimum extent is in February), with only a bit of ice left, mostly in the Weddell Sea and the coasts of Western Antarctica.

      As well as the obvious difference you see between summer and winter, there are more subtle differences in ice extent and distribution between different summers and and winters. This can be caused for many different reasons, such as small random(ish) changes in the climate system, or to larger-scale climate patterns (the Southern Annular Mode–SAM–springs to mind, but I’m no expert in Antarctic climate!).

      Interestingly, the amount of sea ice cover hasn’t been decreasing in the Antarctic like it has in the Arctic due to global warming. In fact, in general, it’s been increasing slightly recently! It’s not entirely clear why this should be, but it may be to do with a stronger water cycle in the Antarctic (and so more snowfall!) due to higher sea-surface temperatures (so more evaporation!) nearer the equator.

    • Photo: Gloeta Massie

      Gloeta Massie answered on 17 Jun 2011:

      What Dave said! But, only if he’s right! 🙂

    • Photo: Ozge Ozkaya

      Ozge Ozkaya answered on 17 Jun 2011:

      The only thing I can add is that this a very complex topic and a lot of people are actually working on it. You could have a look at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) webpage. http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/

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