Thermobaric Conditions in the Areas of Arctic Ice Hummocking on the Maps of the Scattering Index

M. V. Bukharov, N. S. Mironova, V. M. Losev, and V. M. Bukharov

Analyzed are thermobaric conditions in the area of the actual hummocking of the ice cover in the Arctic and the scattering index computed from the measurements of AMSU microwave radiometer and identified from the maps. Determined is the frequency of occurrence of the range of high values of air temperature in the areas of the actual and identified hummocking. Considered are effects of baric conditions on the formation of hummocking fields of different scale in the areas with the high air temperature. It is noted that additional data on under-ice flows should be used in some areas for explaining the reasons for the identifiable hummocking. The results of the analysis demonstrated the consistency of the satellite identification of fresh hummocking fields and the utility of prognostic charts of thermobaric fields for specifying the areas and time of potential hummocking.