Ice Conditions of the Russian Arctic Sea in Connection with the Occurring Climate Changes and Peculiarities of the Ice Cover Evolution in 2021

The multiyear variability of ice conditions in the Russian Arctic seas and the ice area of the Arctic Ocean (AO) is analyzed. It is shown that the ice conditions of the Russian Arctic seas are largely determined by large-scale atmospheric processes and the development of ice cover in the AO. It is shown that there are significant changes in the nature of the variability of the ice coverage of the Russian Arctic seas, which make it possible to distinguish two different periods: 1946–2004 and 2005–2021. It is found that in the past 17-year period, the frequency of complete cleansing of the water area of the Russian Arctic seas has significantly increased compared to previous periods.