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Arctic sea-ice loss intensifies aerosol transport to the Tibetan Plateau

Author

Listed:
  • Fei Li

    (University of Bergen and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research)

  • Xin Wan

    (Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Huijun Wang

    (Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology
    Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yvan Joseph Orsolini

    (NILU−Norwegian Institute for Air Research)

  • Zhiyuan Cong

    (Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yongqi Gao

    (Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research)

  • Shichang Kang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) has recently been polluted by anthropogenic emissions transported from South Asia, but the mechanisms conducive to this aerosol delivery are poorly understood. Here we show that winter loss of Arctic sea ice over the subpolar North Atlantic boosts aerosol transport toward the TP in April, when the aerosol loading is at its climatological maximum and preceding the Indian summer monsoon onset. Low sea ice in February weakens the polar jet, causing decreased Ural snowpack via reduced transport of warm, moist oceanic air into the high-latitude Eurasian interior. This diminished snowpack persists through April, reinforcing the Ural pressure ridge and East Asian trough, segments of a quasi-stationary Rossby wave train extending across Eurasia. These conditions facilitate an enhanced subtropical westerly jet at the southern edge of the TP, invigorating upslope winds that combine with mesoscale updrafts to waft emissions over the Himalayas onto the TP.

Suggested Citation

  • Fei Li & Xin Wan & Huijun Wang & Yvan Joseph Orsolini & Zhiyuan Cong & Yongqi Gao & Shichang Kang, 2020. "Arctic sea-ice loss intensifies aerosol transport to the Tibetan Plateau," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(11), pages 1037-1044, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:10:y:2020:i:11:d:10.1038_s41558-020-0881-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0881-2
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