Interactions between the Odden sea ice peninsula and the North Atlantic Oscillation

Sea ice concentrations along the eastern coast of Greenland have formed a prominent sea ice peninsula known as the Odden for over 100 years of recorded history. However during the years 1992 through 1995, the Odden failed to occur. The intent of this study is to examine fluctuations in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), a continuous Northern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation pattern, and its interactions with the Odden.

Seasonal sea ice development and retreat lagging by approximately one month has been found to correspond with positive leading modes and negative leading modes of the NAO, respectively. Past research has shown that Odden formation is coincident with cold winds from the north-west. During positive NAO, a deepened Icelandic Low tends to generate cold, dry air that moves over Greenland, and sometimes into the Greenland Sea, forming the Odden. The NAO tends to be dominantly in positive phase during winter months, bringing cold air, but during summer, the NAO tends to be dominantly in negative phase, which induces melting. Therefore, issues of seasonality abound as it is difficult to determine whether sea ice is being influenced by the NAO or by the seasonal cooling and warming associated with winter and summer months.