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Central tropical Pacific convection drives extreme high temperatures and surface melt on the Larsen C Ice Shelf, Antarctic Peninsula

Author

Listed:
  • Kyle R. Clem

    (Victoria University of Wellington)

  • Deniz Bozkurt

    (University of Valparaíso
    Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR)2
    Universidad de Concepción)

  • Daemon Kennett

    (Victoria University of Wellington)

  • John C. King

    (British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council)

  • John Turner

    (British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council)

Abstract

Northern sections of the Larsen Ice Shelf, eastern Antarctic Peninsula (AP) have experienced dramatic break-up and collapse since the early 1990s due to strong summertime surface melt, linked to strengthened circumpolar westerly winds. Here we show that extreme summertime surface melt and record-high temperature events over the eastern AP and Larsen C Ice Shelf are triggered by deep convection in the central tropical Pacific (CPAC), which produces an elongated cyclonic anomaly across the South Pacific coupled with a strong high pressure anomaly over Drake Passage. Together these atmospheric circulation anomalies transport very warm and moist air to the southwest AP, often in the form of “atmospheric rivers”, producing strong foehn warming and surface melt on the eastern AP and Larsen C Ice Shelf. Therefore, variability in CPAC convection, in addition to the circumpolar westerlies, is a key driver of AP surface mass balance and the occurrence of extreme high temperatures.

Suggested Citation

  • Kyle R. Clem & Deniz Bozkurt & Daemon Kennett & John C. King & John Turner, 2022. "Central tropical Pacific convection drives extreme high temperatures and surface melt on the Larsen C Ice Shelf, Antarctic Peninsula," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-31119-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31119-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xichen Li & David M. Holland & Edwin P. Gerber & Changhyun Yoo, 2014. "Impacts of the north and tropical Atlantic Ocean on the Antarctic Peninsula and sea ice," Nature, Nature, vol. 505(7484), pages 538-542, January.
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