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Compounding tropical and stratospheric forcing of the record low Antarctic sea-ice in 2016

Author

Listed:
  • Guomin Wang

    (Bureau of Meteorology)

  • Harry H. Hendon

    (Bureau of Meteorology
    ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, Monash University)

  • Julie M. Arblaster

    (ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, Monash University
    Monash University
    National Center for Atmospheric Research)

  • Eun-Pa Lim

    (Bureau of Meteorology)

  • S. Abhik

    (Monash University)

  • Peter van Rensch

    (Monash University)

Abstract

After exhibiting an upward trend since 1979, Antarctic sea ice extent (SIE) declined dramatically during austral spring 2016, reaching a record low by December 2016. Here we show that a combination of atmospheric and oceanic phenomena played primary roles for this decline. The anomalous atmospheric circulation was initially driven by record strength tropical convection over the Indian and western Pacific Oceans, which resulted in a wave-3 circulation pattern around Antarctica that acted to reduce SIE in the Indian Ocean, Ross and Bellingshausen Sea sectors. Subsequently, the polar stratospheric vortex weakened significantly, resulting in record weakening of the circumpolar surface westerlies that acted to decrease SIE in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean sectors. These processes appear to reflect unusual internal atmosphere-ocean variability. However, the warming trend of the tropical Indian Ocean, which may partly stem from anthropogenic forcing, may have contributed to the severity of the 2016 SIE decline.

Suggested Citation

  • Guomin Wang & Harry H. Hendon & Julie M. Arblaster & Eun-Pa Lim & S. Abhik & Peter van Rensch, 2019. "Compounding tropical and stratospheric forcing of the record low Antarctic sea-ice in 2016," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-07689-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07689-7
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