An international collaboration with Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Russian Academy of Sciences monitored the causes, impacts of circulation and sea ice decline in the Arctic Ocean between 2000 – 2019.

Sea ice decline, and atmospheric warming affect the distribution of fresh and saline water with the changing currents.

The researchers created simulations of the different ocean layers, the behaviour of the wind,the distribution of sea ice, salt to understand the changes of the last twenty years and attempt to predict future activity.

They observed a higher sea level pressure around the Canada basin and a lower sea pressure in 2010s so cannot use sea pressure levels to predict future wind dynamics.

Arctic surface freshwater content is directly affected by sea ice decline and some Arctic wind behaviour.

The halocline zone beneath the ocean surface has increased its salt intake also affected by sea ice decline and the wind behaviour.

As the sea ice continues to melt with increasingly warmer ocean temperatures, the reduced sea ice volume will produce less impact however the understanding of wind dynamics is less clear. To get a better idea of the overall impact of a warming Arctic ocean on the planet, they recommend resesarching and combining multiple methods and models.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.863204/full

Wang Q and Danilov S (2022) A Synthesis of the Upper Arctic Ocean Circulation During 2000–2019: Understanding the Roles of Wind Forcing and Sea Ice Decline. Front. Mar. Sci. 9:863204. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2022.863204