On 13/02/17 19:23, Adam Lea wrote:
On 13/02/2017 16:20, JohnD wrote:
"Norman Lynagh" wrote in message
...

I see that a buoy in the Arctic at 85.9°N 31.0°E reported a temperature
of -1°C
early on 9th Feb and +1°C late on 10th Feb. It then went back down to
-25°C
yesterday. Fascinating times!
========================

Not at 85N admittedly, but Svarlbard seems to have been significantly
above freezing for several days recently. See eg post #2760 at:

https://forum.arctic-sea-ice.net/ind...1611.2750.html

Seems to be the end of the (relatively) very mild weather in the Arctic
for now, but interesting while it lasted.

It sounds really strange to hear of above freezing temperatures that
close to the North Pole. Surely it should be like a deep freezer up
there at this time of year.

There's open water about 300nm due south of the buoy whereas it should
be about 700nm at this time of year so there's not a great deal of ice
to cool down southerly winds. Even so, there would be open water west of
Svalbard to near 80N in most winters in the past so, even then it
wouldn't be too far from the warming effect of the ocean.

This warm spell has pushed the ice northwards in the Svalbard area so
keeping the extent of Arctic ice at record low levels but it may also
have the effect of reducing the chance of a record low this summer by
blocking the outflow of old ice through the Fram Strait. The conditions
off the east coast of Greenland remind me more of a typical June and
July in the 1960s, which seems to back that up that supposition.
However, I still think we're in for a record low this summer in spite of
that.

--
Graham P Davis, Bracknell, Berks. [Retd meteorologist/programmer]
Web-site: http://www.scarlet-jade.com/
Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear,
or an idiot from any direction! [Irish proverb]