What drives the process of “atlantification” in Arctic seas?

• In recent years, a phenomenon called “atlantification” has disturbed ocean stratification in the Arctic and caused heat fluxes that help melt sea ice.
• A study shows the Arctic Dipole is the reason behind it.

Atlantification

• It is the increasing influence of Atlantic water in the Arctic.
• Warmer and saltier Atlantic water is extending its reach northward into the Arctic Ocean.
• The Arctic Ocean is becoming warmer and saltier and sea-ice is disappearing as a result.
• This change in the Arctic climate is most prominent in the Barents Sea, a shallow shelf sea north of Scandinavia, where sea-ice is disappearing faster than in any other Arctic region.
• Impact:
  • This pattern, associated with anticyclonic winds over North America and cyclonic winds over Eurasia.
  • It affects the inflow of water from the North Atlantic through the Fram Strait.

Arctic dipole anomaly

• The Arctic dipole anomaly is a pressure pattern characterized by high pressure on the arctic regions of North America and low pressure on those of Eurasia.
• It was observed for the first time in the first decade of 2000s and is perhaps linked to recent climate change.
• The Arctic dipole lets more southern winds into the Arctic Ocean resulting in more ice melting.

Prelims Takeaway

• Arctic Dipole Anomaly
• Atlantification