Author(s): Peter Wadhams
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Time-general circulation models (GCMs) of global climate agree in predicting that greenhouse warming will be most rapid in high northern latitudes. This implies that Arctic sea ice and snow cover should be showing a significant response to global warming over the next few decades. In this review we describe the factors governing the thickness and extent of sea ice and attempt to estimate qualitatively the nature of its response to climatic warming. The simplest case is that of fast ice: in moving pack ice, the dynamics and deformation of the ice cover have a dominant effect, making prediction extremely difficult. We also review evidence for present-day changes in snow and ice extent and thickness.
Year: 1992