An Unusual Anomaly of Ice Conditions in the Eastern Seas of the Russian Arctic and in the Arctic Basin in Summer 2007

Yu. A. Gorbunov, S. M. Losev, and V. T. Sokolov

It is demonstrated that during the whole annual cycle of ice cover evolution in 2006–2007 in the eastern seas of the Russian Arctic and in the Arctic basin, the factors whose effect led to the formation of an extremely large anomaly of ice conditions in summer 2007 were revealed. By the end of summer, the ice melted on the huge water area of 3500000 km2. In September, the ice edge between the meridians of 150E–170W reached the parallel of 85N. The estimates of the open water area being formed due to the ice melting and its drifting edge shift are given.

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