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Influence of high-latitude atmospheric circulation changes on summertime Arctic sea ice

Author

Listed:
  • Qinghua Ding

    (University of California
    Earth Research Institute, University of California
    Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington)

  • Axel Schweiger

    (Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington)

  • Michelle L’Heureux

    (NOAA Climate Prediction Center, College Park)

  • David S. Battisti

    (University of Washington
    University of Washington)

  • Stephen Po-Chedley

    (University of Washington)

  • Nathaniel C. Johnson

    (Cooperative Institute for Climate Science, Princeton University)

  • Eduardo Blanchard-Wrigglesworth

    (University of Washington)

  • Kirstin Harnos

    (NOAA Climate Prediction Center, College Park)

  • Qin Zhang

    (NOAA Climate Prediction Center, College Park)

  • Ryan Eastman

    (University of Washington)

  • Eric J. Steig

    (University of Washington
    University of Washington)

Abstract

The Arctic has seen rapid sea-ice decline in the past three decades, whilst warming at about twice the global average rate. Yet the relationship between Arctic warming and sea-ice loss is not well understood. Here, we present evidence that trends in summertime atmospheric circulation may have contributed as much as 60% to the September sea-ice extent decline since 1979. A tendency towards a stronger anticyclonic circulation over Greenland and the Arctic Ocean with a barotropic structure in the troposphere increased the downwelling longwave radiation above the ice by warming and moistening the lower troposphere. Model experiments, with reanalysis data constraining atmospheric circulation, replicate the observed thermodynamic response and indicate that the near-surface changes are dominated by circulation changes rather than feedbacks from the changing sea-ice cover. Internal variability dominates the Arctic summer circulation trend and may be responsible for about 30–50% of the overall decline in September sea ice since 1979.

Suggested Citation

  • Qinghua Ding & Axel Schweiger & Michelle L’Heureux & David S. Battisti & Stephen Po-Chedley & Nathaniel C. Johnson & Eduardo Blanchard-Wrigglesworth & Kirstin Harnos & Qin Zhang & Ryan Eastman & Eric , 2017. "Influence of high-latitude atmospheric circulation changes on summertime Arctic sea ice," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 7(4), pages 289-295, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:7:y:2017:i:4:d:10.1038_nclimate3241
    DOI: 10.1038/nclimate3241
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    Cited by:

    1. Yu Wang & Pengcheng Yan & Taichen Feng & Fei Ji & Shankai Tang & Guolin Feng, 2021. "Detection of anthropogenically driven trends in Arctic amplification," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 169(3), pages 1-17, December.

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