Impacts of Arctic Cyclone Precipitation on Sea Ice Conditions

Arctic sea ice is changing rapidly in response to local and global climate conditions. Arctic cyclones are synoptic weather events that have a complex range of effects on sea ice mass balance. Cyclone precipitation is a key input to the snowpack on top of the ice, which helps or hinders sea ice survivability, depending on the timing and phase of the precipitation, and the initial sea ice conditions. This research considers how a warming climate affects Arctic cyclone precipitation characteristics and sea ice survivability over time. Using ERA-5 reanalysis data and passive microwave sea ice concentration data, we have compiled a climatology of average precipitation from 1979-2021 as well as a database of cyclone events that produce extreme precipitation as both snow and rainfall. The effect that extreme precipitation might have on summer SICs depends on the type of precipitation and the season in which the precipitation falls.