Summer snow on Arctic sea ice modulated by the Arctic Oscillation

Arctic sea ice has undergone significant changes since the 1970s, becoming thinner and less extensive. Snow cover on sea ice, with its high albedo, mitigates sea-ice melt and ocean warming. This study investigates the influence of the Arctic Oscillation (AO) on summer snow depth variability on Arctic sea ice (1980-2020) using reanalysis data, snow modeling, and satellite observations. Positive AO phases lead to greater snow accumulation and higher surface albedo in summer due to increased cyclone activity, cooler temperatures, and greater snowfall. However, this AO influence weakens after 2007, suggesting that future warming and sea-ice loss might alter the relationship between the AO and snow cover.

Melinda A. Webster, Aku Riihelä, Sahra Kacimi, Thomas J. Ballinger, Edward Blanchard-Wrigglesworth, Chelsea L. Parker, Linette Boisvert