2026-04-30 06:01 UTC
@ZLabe @CopernicusECMWF
These analyses consistently show warming in the southern Bellingshausen Sea through all 4 decades. This coincides with progressively diminishing sea ice and later start to its regrowth in this sector (often partially hidden by the tendency of studies to lump the Amundsen and Bellingshausen sectors together).
The flip of the Weddell Sea sector to warming in the most recent decade is striking and should be a cause for concern. This sector holds the largest accumulation of sea ice and sea ice production there is critical to formation of dense shelf water that is important in driving the overturning circulation of the ocean.
Replies (1)
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@ZLabe@fediscience.org 2026-04-30 12:12
@PoLaRobs @CopernicusECMWF Thank you for the summary - the regional variability and trends are so important here!