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Changing Sea Ice Conditions in Hudson Bay, 1980–2005

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A Little Less Arctic

Abstract

We present an overview of changes in Hudson Bay sea ice in the context of thermodynamic forcing due to increased surface air temperatures and dynamic wind and current forcing mechanisms. Examined in particular is the correspondence between sea ice extent, surface air temperatures, and atmospheric indices during spring and fall from 1980 to 2005. Changes in the timing of freeze-up and break-up over the last several decades were significant. In the spring, temperature trends were consistently positive with temperature increases of 0.23°C/decade from 1950 to 2005. With increasing temperatures in the Hudson Bay region, sea ice concentrations and sea ice extents have decreased significantly as well. Warmer surface air temperatures have also shifted the mean freeze-up and break-up dates by 0.8–1.6 weeks in each of the seasons. Dynamic forcing of sea ice is further explored using the concept of relative vorticity, or the tendency for sea ice to rotate clockwise (or counterclockwise) within Hudson Bay in response to changes in atmospheric circulation. Surface air temperatures and hence ice extent showed cyclical patterns over the time period studied and appear to be driven by large scale atmospheric circulation patterns. This cyclical behaviour has been previously associated with various hemispheric indices including the North Atlantic Oscillation. The implications of changing ice conditions in Hudson Bay for marine mammal habitat are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS), Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, MB, Canada

    K. Hochheim

  2. Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS), Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, MB, Canada

    D. G. Barber

  3. Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS), Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, MB, Canada

    J. V. Lukovich

Authors
  1. K. Hochheim
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  2. D. G. Barber
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  3. J. V. Lukovich
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Correspondence to K. Hochheim .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, University of Manitoba Freshwater Institute, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N6, Canada

    Steven H. Ferguson

  2. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N6, Canada

    Lisa L. Loseto

  3. Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, 1714, Iqaluit, Nunavut, X0A 0H0, Canada

    Mark L. Mallory

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Hochheim, K., Barber, D.G., Lukovich, J.V. (2010). Changing Sea Ice Conditions in Hudson Bay, 1980–2005. In: Ferguson, S.H., Loseto, L.L., Mallory, M.L. (eds) A Little Less Arctic. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9121-5_2

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