Role of atmospheric heat fluxes and ocean advection on decadal (2000–2019) change of sea-ice in the Arctic

In this article, role of ocean advection and atmospheric heat fluxes on recent decadal (2000–2019) decrease of sea-ice in the Arctic (60 ^∘ N–90 ^∘ N) has been investigated using an ocean sea-ice coupled model, known as Modular Ocean Model of version 5 with Sea Ice Simulator (MOMSIS). MOMSIS successfully simulates AVHRR observed decadal change of sea-ice concentration (SIC) and sea surface temperature (SST) in the Arctic during all four seasons; winter (December–February), spring (March–May), summer (June–August) and autumn (September–November) except few occasions. Also, best performance of the MOMSIS are restricted at south of 80 ^∘ N with statistical significance of more than 90 % . We have also divided Arctic Ocean into eight sectors for our detailed analysis. Maximum decadal decrease of SIC and increase of SST has been observed in the Barents (sector 2), Kara (sector 3) and Laptev (sector 4) Sea regions of the Arctic using both AVHRR and MOMSIS with statistical significance of 90 % . Also, very small decadal decrease (increase) of SIC (SST) has been observed in the Norwegian (sector 1) and Beaufort (sector 7) Sea regions of the Arctic using both AVHRR and MOMSIS. Mixed layer heat budget has been performed to understand role of thermodynamics processes on decadal change of SIC and SST in the Arctic. Strong decadal change of net atmospheric heat (NAH) fluxes are responsible for high decadal change of SIC and SST in the Barents (sector 2), Kara (sector 3) and Laptev (sector 4) Sea regions of the Arctic. In the Norwegian (sector 1) and Beaufort (sector 7) Sea, strong destructive interference between decadal change of NAH fluxes and ocean advection play an important role for small decadal change of SIC and SST during all four seasons. Also, for ocean advection, horizontal part dominate compared to vertical in all eight sector of the Arctic.