The Greenland Sea Ice Season 2002—The Observed Extremes Seen From Ice Center Perspectives

Operational monitoring and mapping of the sea ice in the Greenland Waters based on data from Radarsat SAR, NOAA-AVHRR and DMSP-SSM/I showed unusual sea ice distributions throughout the 2002 season. The ice season was generally mild, and especially the summer season showed an extraordinary minimum distribution, probably not observed lower for at least a decade. Eastern Baffin Bay break-up was in Mid-June (normal early August) and the East Greenland sea ice retreated to north of 78ºN (normal 70º-71ºN). On the other hand the ice sea season in South Greenland was short but extremely intense and characterized by heavy multi year ice about 5-6 meters thick (normally about 3 meters). The East Greenland Waters north of 65ºN were free of sea ice before the waters to the south. The 2002 observations near the Greenland shores may of course raise the question about relations to climatic variability. The 2002 ice season also addresses the question of potential changes in the Ice Centre service and clients need for new sea ice products.