Analysis of multi-year variation characteristics of sea ice in Chukchi Sea

In recent years, the navigational capacity of Northwest Passage in Arctic has been improved due to climate change. The Chukchi Sea, located on the north side of the Bering Strait, is a key area of the Northwest Passage and one of the most representative areas of sea ice variability. The sea ice extent was calculated using sea ice concentration data, and then the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of sea ice extent and thickness in Chukchi Sea were analyzed. The results show that the sea ice has significant seasonal and interannual variabilities. The ice began melt in May, reaching the minimum extent in September, and then began to freeze again. Meanwhile, the sea ice extent decreases year by year. By analyzing the monthly average thickness of the sea ice, it is found that the sea ice grows from October to April of the next year, and the growth rate during the period is gradually decreasing. The study provides valuable information for safe Arctic navigation in the Northwest Passage.