As Arctic sea ice melts, Antarctic sea ice grows. Why?

[jpak]

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0523/As-Arctic-sea-ice-melts-Antarctic-sea-ice-grows.-Why

Researchers supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) may have found an explanation for the differences in coverage between Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets.

A new study by a NASA- and NOAA-backed team identifies the causes of the "stark contrast between Arctic and Antarctic sea ice change." The northern pole’s sea ice extent has been recorded at all-time lows in recent years and thinned by 65 percent between 1975 and 2012, while the icy southern continent has seen gains in its ice coverage despite concerns over glacier melting.

Using temperature, topographical, and bathymetric data, the research team identified the cause behind the preservation of Antarctica’s ice. They found local ocean depth and continental surface features impact the region's wind and ocean currents such that the production and protection of sea ice is sustained, while also noting that dissimilar conditions in the Arctic led to the ongoing melt in the north.

"Our study provides strong evidence that the behavior of Antarctic sea ice is entirely consistent with the geophysical characteristics found in the southern polar region, which differ sharply from those present in the Arctic," Jet Propulsion Laboratory Earth science researcher Son Nghiem said in a news release.

<more>

[NV Whino]

1. Because its winter down under and summer up north?