Antarctic sea ice variability and trends, 1979–2010

• Published in: The cryosphere Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 871 - 880
• Main Authors: Parkinson, C. L, Cavalieri, D. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Katlenburg-Lindau Copernicus GmbH 15.08.2012; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Marine; Sea ice; PSW, Amundsen Sea; PSW, Weddell Sea; ISW, Indian Ocean; PN, Arctic; PS, Ross Sea

In sharp contrast to the decreasing sea ice coverage of the Arctic, in the Antarctic the sea ice cover has, on average, expanded since the late 1970s. More specifically, satellite passive-microwave data for the period November 1978–December 2010 reveal an overall positive trend in ice extents of 17...