COSEE Ocean Systems: News
Arctic ice warms from below
Description: Shrinking Arctic sea ice could cause more-vigorous mixing of ocean heat in northern waters, eventually leading to further melting. Scientists measured water temperatures at different depths and locations across the Arctic Ocean. They found that heat rose more quickly from warm, deep layers of water that ran into rough patches on the sea floor than from areas that have a more even floor. As sea ice disappears, the atmosphere can transfer more of its energy into the ocean, which drives ocean mixing. The rising heat from this mixing could cause sea ice to decline even more. [Source: Nature]
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/518277e
Availability: Summary
Source: Nature
Publish Date: 2/19/2015
Reading Level: Expert
Page Length:  

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