Title: Transition Periods between Sea Ice Concentration and Sea Surface Air Temperature in the Arctic Revealed by an Abnormal Running Correlation.

Journal: Journal of Ocean University of China, 18(3): 633-642.

Authors: JI X. -P., and J. -P. Zhao*

Abstract: This study used the synthetic running correlation coefficient calculation method to calculate the running correlation coefficients between the daily sea ice concentration (SIC) and sea surface air temperature (SSAT) in the Beaufort-Chukchi-East Siberian- Laptev Sea (BCEL Sea), Kara Sea and southern Chukchi Sea, with an aim to understand and measure the seasonally occurring changes in the Arctic climate system. The similarities and differences among these three regions were also discussed. There are periods in spring and autumn when the changes in SIC and SSAT are not synchronized, which is a result of the seasonally occurring variation in the climate system. These periods are referred to as transition periods. Spring transition periods can be found in all three regions, and the start and end dates of these periods have advancing trends. The multiyear average duration of the spring transition periods in the BCEL Sea, Kara Sea and southern Chukchi Sea is 74 days, 57 days and 34 days, respectively. In autumn, transition periods exist in only the southern Chukchi Sea, with a multiyear average duration of only 16 days. Moreover, in the Kara Sea, positive correlation events can be found in some years, which are caused by weather time scale processes.