Feedback of Arctic Cloud-Sea Ice from Observations

Arctic sea ice cover has been decreasing in the last few decades, and is expected to disappear in the summer season before the end of this century. Changes in sea ice cover affects almost all other physical processes in the Arctic climate system. Studies have shown that positive cloud amount anomalies occurred over the newly opened water, which in turn influence the surface energy budget and the sea ice cover. However, the interaction between the changes in sea ice cover and cloud amount has not been quantified. Using satellite products and reanalysis data from 2000 to the present, including MODIS cloud amount and sea ice concentration from SSM/I, we assess the interaction and feedback between Arctic cloud amount and sea ice cover using lead/lag correlations and equilibrium feedback analysis. Positive cloud amount anomalies are shown to correspond to the newly opened water, particularly in autumn. The feedback efficiency of cloud on the sea ice and Arctic climate will be presented.