[Press Release] Evidence for ice-ocean albedo feedback in the Arctic Ocean shifting to a seasonal ice zone

Summer sea ice extent in the Arctic Ocean has been reduced by half in the last 40 years. This means that the Arctic Ocean is shifting from perennial to seasonal ice zone where the sea ice disappears in summer. Researchers have focused on several factors that cause this sea ice retreat. A research group that includes Prof. Kay I. Ohshima (Division of Earth System Science) provided quantitative evidence that ice-albedo feedback due to the albedo contrast between water and ice is a major factor in the sea ice retreat.

This research outcome is published in Scientific Reports.

Please visit links below to view the press release (Japanese ver. only).
Research Press Release (PDF)