Synoptic prerequisites and scenarios for forming the extreme ice‑rich and low‑ice winters in the Okhotsk Sea

The ice cover dynamics in the Okhotsk Sea since 1970s is analyzed and synoptic atmospheric conditions for ice-rich and low-ice periods are determined. These periods were distinguished by combination of certain synoptic patterns from October to March. The extremely vast ice cover was observed in 1977–1983 and 1998–2003 when the winter centers of atmospheric action were active, the Aleutian Low located in the extreme eastern position, the ridge of Siberian High extended far north, the air pressure gradient over the Okhotsk Sea was high, and cyclonic activity over the sea was weak. As the result, cold Arctic air invaded to the Okhotsk Sea and contributed to rapid forming the sea ice. Typical prerequisite of this process was a vast cold zone of high pressure at high latitudes promoted early transition of the barometric pressure field to winter patterns in early September. In the winters with moderate ice cover, the atmospheric centers were less active and the tracks of cyclones were directed mainly to the western Bering Sea that provided transfer of rather warm air masses from Bering Sea to the Okhotsk Sea. Under these conditions, winter monsoon began in late September. The periods of low-ice winters in 1989–1997 and 2004–2015 were distinguished by low activity of the Siberian High and Aleutian Low with westward shift of the latter and abnormally high frequency of cyclones passed over the Okhotsk Sea and induced warm air advection. In this case the winter monsoon formed in 10–20 days later, in October. Such conditions were proceeded by lowered atmospheric pressure in the polar zone.

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