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Remote Sensing of the Climate and Cryosphere of Nares Strait, Northwest Greenland

Decker, David T.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1275480575

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Atmospheric Sciences.
A polynya is an area of open water or less thick ice compared to its surroundings that forms in polar regions during weather conditions that would normally produce thicker sea ice, and releases the most sensible and latent heat flux to the atmosphere. This thesis incorporates satellite imagery from optical, thermal, and microwave sensors to investigate the climate and cryosphere of the North Water polynya, the largest, reoccurring polynya in the Arctic. Ecologically, it is known to be of significance to marine animals, e.g. narwhals and beluga whales. The polynya normally results from the formation of an ice arch at the southern limit of Nares Strait that prevents multi-year Arctic sea ice drift through the strait. The ice arch usually collapses by early to mid-summer, thus ending the polynya. In a dramatic display of climate-cryosphere dynamics, the winter 2008-2009 sea ice arch consolidated, 500 km north of its normal position. Summer 2009, sea surface temperatures were 1.5 °C above normal in central Nares Strait. In June 2009, 25 km resolution passive microwave sea ice concentrations were 33% below normal. 12.5 km resolution passive microwave sea ice concentrations were 20% below the 2002-2009 average north of Smith Sound in southern Nares Strait, and 60% below normal in northern Baffin Bay. Optical satellite imagery are used to measure area and length changes of the Petermann and Humboldt glaciers that empty into Nares St., where area losses of 215.4 km2 and 175.2 km2, respectively, are observed since end of summer 2000; an area 4.5 times that of Manhattan Island, New York, USA (87.5 km2), ranking them among the top-area losses among Arctic glaciers. Polar MM5 simulations have been made for each season to calculate the net snow accumulation, melt water runoff, and surface mass balance for 2000-2009. Snow line detection data has been developed to approximate the equilibrium line altitude. Results at Humboldt glacier indicate a change in the snow line associated with decrease accumulation area and increase in melt water runoff. The fresh water from the glaciers mixes with the salinity of the ocean water in Nares Strait. Sea ice concentration, sea surface temperature, increase in melt season, increase in surface air temperatures, decrease of area in the north region of Humboldt glacier, and increase in snow line suggests that the summer of 2009 showed climate change signals different from other years in the 1979-2009 period.
Jason Box, Dr. (Advisor)
Jay S. Hobgood, Dr. (Committee Member)
Jeffery C. Rogers, Dr. (Committee Member)
122 p.
Atmosphere; Oceanography; Remote Sensing
Climate; Cryosphere; Remote Sensing

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Decker, D. T. (2010). Remote Sensing of the Climate and Cryosphere of Nares Strait, Northwest Greenland [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1275480575

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Decker, David. Remote Sensing of the Climate and Cryosphere of Nares Strait, Northwest Greenland. 2010. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1275480575.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Decker, David. "Remote Sensing of the Climate and Cryosphere of Nares Strait, Northwest Greenland." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1275480575

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1275480575
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.