Sea Ice Outlook Report Available
September 2009 Sea Ice Outlook: June Report
Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH)
For further information and to view the report, please go to:
http://www.arcus.org/search/seaiceoutlook/2009_outlook/report_june.php
Or contact:
James Overland (Lead, Sea Ice Outlook Core Integration Group)
Email: james.e.overland [at] noaa.gov
Hajo Eicken (Member, Sea Ice Outlook Core Integration Group)
Email: hajo.eicken [at] gi.alaska.edu
The 2009 September Sea Ice Outlook: June Report is now available. This
Outlook report, based on May data, indicates a continuation of low
pan-arctic sea ice extent. The range of individual outlook values is
from 4.2 to 5.0 million square kilometers. All estimates are well below
the 1979-2007 September climatological mean value of 6.7 million square
kilometers. The June Outlook suggests a similar, or slightly increased,
September 2009 extent compared to the September 2008 value of 4.7
million square kilometers. However, there is a small but important
probability of a major sea ice loss event this year, given that the ice
is thinner and younger than previous years, combined with a possibility
of atmospheric conditions that cause significant ice retreat. To view
the report, please go to:
http://www.arcus.org/search/seaiceoutlook/2009_outlook/report_june.php.
As a new feature of the 2009 Sea Ice Outlook, a separate Regional Report
synthesizes contributions that provide perspective on specific areas of
the Arctic. The individual contributions indicate that it is highly
likely that the Northern Sea Route will be passable this year, while
only one passageway of the Northwest Passage is likely to open, if at
all. Ice conditions in the seas north of Alaska are predicted to be
milder than normal due to a lack of multi-year ice compared to the past
several years. To view the Regional June Report, please go to the
Regional Corner: http://www.arcus.org/search/seaiceoutlook/regional.php.
Now in its second year, the SEARCH Sea Ice Outlook is an international
effort to provide an integrated, community-wide summary of the expected
September arctic sea ice minimum. Monthly reports, based on the prior
month's data, are issued throughout the summer.
The Sea Ice Outlook should not be considered as a formal prediction for
arctic sea ice extent, nor is it intended as a replacement for existing
efforts or centers with operational responsibility. Rather, it is a
community effort that provides an instrument for synthesis of data from
arctic observing systems and modeling activities to provide insight into
the arctic sea ice system.
For further information and to view the reports, please go to:
http://www.arcus.org/search/seaiceoutlook/index.php.
Or contact:
James Overland (Lead, Sea Ice Outlook Core Integration Group)
Email: james.e.overland [at] noaa.gov
Or:
Hajo Eicken (Member, Sea Ice Outlook Core Integration Group)
Email: hajo.eicken [at] gi.alaska.edu