-The Antarctic Sea Ice Variability Workshop was co-sponsored by CliC
The Polar Research Board and the Ocean Studies Board of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine held a community workshop on Antarctic sea ice variability in early January. The workshop brought together Antarctic sea ice and ocean experts to review the current science of climate-ocean-sea ice interactions in the Southern Hemisphere. Over 40 individuals were present at the workshop and an additional 16 scientists joined via webcast. Participants examined the processes governing the decadal-scale growth and recent surge in Antarctic sea ice extent as well as projections of future Antarctic sea ice changes. Breakout group sessions enabled the open discussion of major challenges and strategies to advance understanding of Antarctic sea ice variability and prediction. Topics covered include understanding regional variability and trends in sea ice observations; understanding discrepancies between modeled and observed sea ice trends; the role of internal climate variability as well as stratospheric ozone in modulating the Southern Ocean and sea ice; and placing recent trends within the context of emerging proxy sea ice records that extend our knowledge of sea ice dynamics further into the past.
The workshop was sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), with additional support generously provided by WCRP-CliC and the WMO to fund travel for two international participants. Proceedings from the workshop are currently being written up in an Academies-authored report, which will undergo peer-review before being published. The target for the report’s release is early summer 2016. Additional information, including the workshop agenda with links to some of the workshop presentations, can be found on the Polar Research Board website.