Evidence for a recent change in the link between the North Atlantic Oscillation and Arctic Sea ice export

Evidence for a recent change in the link between the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Arctic sea ice export through Fram Strait during wintertime (DJFM) is presented from the analysis of simulated Arctic sea ice and observations for the period 1958–1997. Whereas no correlation between the two time series is found from 1958 to 1977 (r=0.1), the correlation increased significantly thereafter (r=0.7, 1978–1997). The increased coherency between the NAO and Arctic sea ice export through Fram Strait during the last two decades resulted from anomalous meridional wind components near Fram Strait which were associated with the more easterly position of the NAO's centers of interannual variability compared to 1958–1977.