Home – Home – Jornals – Earth’s Cryosphere 2022 number 1

Autocorrelation characteristics of long-term time series of cells with the size of 1° x 1° of the sea ice area data array for the Northern Hemisphere are obtained. The temporal heterogeneity and spatial anisotropy in long-term variability of the sea ice area in the Northern Hemisphere are determined. The closest relationships between long-term monthly values of the sea ice area are typical for summer months. More than 49 % of maximum values of pair correlation coefficient are due to the connection of June and July, as well as July and August multi-year series in the array cells. This effect is a consequence of intense and massive summer melting of sea ice in the Northern Hemisphere and similarity of their long-term variability. The closest relationships in the neighboring cells of the array between the long-term monthly values of the sea ice area in all months of the year are noted for the east - west latitudinal direction. It accounts for more than 87 % of all maximum values of correlation coefficient. Spatial anisotropy is revealed throughout the entire area to the north of the Arctic Circle. The reason for this effect is determined by the features of sea ice seasonal formation (mainly from high latitudes to low latitudes) and melting (from low latitudes to high latitudes). These features are associated with seasonal changes in insolation. Long-term changes in sea ice area have similar direction and are determined by changes in meridional gradient of insolation. Another reason may be mainly meridional direction of sea ice drift in the Arctic Ocean. Areas with high and low levels of short-range spatial and temporal relationships in sea ice area dynamics in the Northern Hemisphere are determined.