Above image, edited from Naval Research Laboratory, shows that a large area has developed at the center of the Arctic Ocean with very thin ice, at some places down to virtually zero, i.e. open water.
This development is to a large extent caused by persistent cyclonic activity in the Arctic. The Arctic is warming up faster than anywhere else, and this is reducing the temperature difference between the Arctic and lower latitudes. As a result, the polar vortex and jet stream get distorted, resulting in extreme weather. This is graphically illustrated by the animation below, from the California Regional Weather Server.
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| Note: this animation is a 2.5 MB file that may take some time to fully load. Credit: California Regional Weather Server |
Related
Open Water In Areas Around North Pole - June 22, 2013
http://arctic-news.blogspot.com/2013/06/open-water-in-areas-around-north-pole.html
Thin Spots developing in Arctic Sea Ice - June 13, 2013
http://arctic-news.blogspot.com/2013/06/thin-spots-developing-in-arctic-sea-ice.html
Polar jet stream appears hugely deformed - December 20, 2012
Changes to Polar Vortex affect mile-deep ocean circulation patterns - September 24, 2012
http://arctic-news.blogspot.com/2012/09/changes-to-polar-vortex-affect-mile-deep-ocean-circulation-patterns.html
Diagram of Doom - August 28, 2012
http://arctic-news.blogspot.com/2012/08/diagram-of-doom.html
Opening further Doorways to Doom - August 28, 2012
Opening further Doorways to Doom - August 28, 2012
http://arctic-news.blogspot.com/2012/08/opening-further-doorways-to-doom.html
Huge cyclone batters Arctic sea ice - August 11, 2012
Huge cyclone batters Arctic sea ice - August 11, 2012
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