The footprints of 16year trends of Arctic springtime cloud and radiation properties on September sea ice retreat

The most prominent September Arctic sea ice decline over the period of 2000-2015 occurs over the Siberian Sea, Laptev Sea, and Kara Sea. The satellite observed and retrieved sea ice concentration (SIC) and cloud/radiation properties over the Arctic (70 degree -90 degree N) have been used to investigate the impact of springtime cloud and radiation properties on September SIC variation. Positive trends of cloud fractions, cloud water paths, and surface downward longwave flux at the surface over the September sea ice retreat areas are found over the period of 1 March to 14 May, while negative trends are found over the period of 15 May to 28 June. The spatial distributions of correlations between springtime cloud/radiation properties and September SIC have been calculated, indicating that increasing cloud fractions and downward longwave flux during springtime tend to enhance sea ice melting due to strong cloud warming effect. Surface downward and upward shortwave fluxes play an important role from May to June when the onset of sea ice melting occurs. The comparison between linearly detrended and nondetrended of each parameter indicates that significant impact of cloud and radiation properties on September sea ice retreat occurs over the Chukchi/Beaufort Sea at interannual time scale, especially over the period of 31 March to 29 April, while strongest climatological trends are found over the Laptev/Siberian Sea. Key Points * Increasing cloud fractions and surface downward longwave flux in spring tend to enhance sea ice melting due to strong cloud warming effect * Surface shortwave fluxes play a more important role in late spring and early summer than other periods * Chukchi/Beaufort Sea is important to relate springtime cloud/radiation properties to September sea ice variance at interannual time scale