New Insights Into Cyclone Impacts on Sea Ice in the Atlantic Sector of the Arctic Ocean in Winter

Based on the ERA5 reanalysis, we report on statistically significant impacts of transient cyclones on sea ice concentration (SIC) in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic Ocean in winter under “New Arctic” conditions (2000–2020). This includes a pattern of reduced SIC prior to and during cyclones for the whole study domain, while a regional difference between increased SIC in the Barents Sea and reduced SIC in the Greenland Sea is found as the net effect from 3 days prior to 5 days after the cyclone passage. Generally, locally low to medium SIC conditions combined with intense cyclones drive highest SIC changes. There are indications that both thermodynamic and dynamic effects contribute to the SIC changes, but a detailed quantification is required in future research. We provide evidence that cyclone impacts on SIC have amplified compared to the “Old Arctic” (1979–1999), particularly in the Barents Sea.