Antarctic plays a prominent role in driving the atmospheric and oceanic circulations due to remarkable seasonal changes of sea-ice concentration (SIC). Nevertheless, few attention has been taken to studies focusing on the link between the SIC and other climatic parameters. Our goal in the present study is to investigate the relationship between the SIC and the minimum surface daily temperature in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. SIC is minimum in February and maximum in September. However, Weddell and Ross sea shows remarkable SIC from May to November. Based on statistical analyses the minimum temperature values were converted to cold and warm classes. Afterwards these values were correlated with SIC in different sectors of the Antarctic surrounding seas. The statistical correlation results showed that these temperature classes and the SIC are connected in particular to the Weddell, Ross, Bellingshausen and Amundsen seas.
sea ice concentration; minimum temperature; Antarctica; Rio Grande do Sul
