Changes in Arctic clouds during intervals of rapid sea ice loss

Vavrus, Steve; Holland, Marika M.; Bailey, David A.

doi:10.1007/s00382-010-0816-0

Cited by 76 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…The increased LE and SH fluxes could play a role in the increased cloud cover in October through enhanced unstable atmospheric conditions and increased water vapor. These results are also consistent with previous studies (Blüthgen et al, 2012;Schweiger et al, 2008;Vavrus et al, 2011).…”

Section: Cloud Cover Changes Resulting From Reduced Sea Icesupporting

confidence: 94%

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Effect of retreating sea ice on Arctic cloud cover in simulated recent global warming

Abe¹,

Nozawa

Ogura

et al. 2016

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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Abstract. This study investigates the effect of sea ice reduction on Arctic cloud cover in historical simulations with the coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model MIROC5. Arctic sea ice has been substantially retreating since the 1980s, particularly in September, under simulated global warming conditions. The simulated sea ice reduction is consistent with satellite observations. On the other hand, Arctic cloud cover has been increasing in October, with about a 1-month lag behind the sea ice reduction. The delayed response leads to extensive sea ice reductions because the heat and moisture fluxes from the underlying open ocean into the atmosphere are enhanced. Sensitivity experiments with the atmospheric part of MIROC5 clearly show that sea ice reduction causes increases in cloud cover. Arctic cloud cover increases primarily in the lower troposphere, but it decreases in the near-surface layers just above the ocean; predominant temperature rises in these near-surface layers cause drying (i.e., decreases in relative humidity), despite increasing moisture flux. Cloud radiative forcing due to increases in cloud cover in autumn brings an increase in the surface downward longwave radiation (DLR) by approximately 40-60 % compared to changes in clear-sky surface DLR in fall. These results suggest that an increase in Arctic cloud cover as a result of reduced sea ice coverage may bring further sea ice retreat and enhance the feedback processes of Arctic warming.

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Section: Cloud Cover Changes Resulting From Reduced Sea Icesupporting

confidence: 94%

“…2d), although the change was not substantial. The largest increase in simulated cloud cover in October agrees with previous studies using satellite data and climate model simulations (Liu et al, 2012;Vavrus et al, 2011;Wu and Lee, 2012).…”

Section: Simulated Change Of Arctic Sea Ice and Cloudssupporting

confidence: 89%

Effect of retreating sea ice on Arctic cloud cover in simulated recent global warming

Abe¹,

Nozawa

Ogura

et al. 2016

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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“…On the basis of TOVS satellite data Schweiger et al (2008a) observed that the sea ice retreat is linked to a decrease in lowlevel cloud amount and a simultaneous increase in mid-level clouds. The results on increasing cloud cover are consistent with the ensembles of 21st century projections by Vavrus et al (2010), who found that clouds increased in autumn during periods of rapid sea ice loss.…”

Section: Clouds Precipitation and Evaporationsupporting

confidence: 89%

Recent advances in understanding the Arctic climate system state and change from a sea ice perspective: a review

2014

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Abstract. Sea ice is the central component and most sensitive indicator of the Arctic climate system. Both the depletion and areal decline of the Arctic sea ice cover, observed since the 1970s, have accelerated since the millennium. While the relationship of global warming to sea ice reduction is evident and underpinned statistically, it is the connecting mechanisms that are explored in detail in this review.Sea ice erodes both from the top and the bottom. Atmospheric, oceanic and sea ice processes interact in nonlinear ways on various scales. Feedback mechanisms lead to an Arctic amplification of the global warming system: the amplification is both supported by the ice depletion and, at the same time, accelerates ice reduction. Knowledge of the mechanisms of sea ice decline grew during the 1990s and This article reviews recent progress in understanding the sea ice decline. Processes are revisited from atmospheric, oceanic and sea ice perspectives. There is strong evidence that decisive atmospheric changes are the major driver of sea ice change. Feedbacks due to reduced ice concentration, surface albedo, and ice thickness allow for additional local atmospheric and oceanic influences and self-supporting feedbacks. Large-scale ocean influences on Arctic Ocean hydrology and circulation are highly evident. Northward heat fluxes in the ocean are clearly impacting the ice margins, especially in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic. There is little indication of a direct and decisive influence of the warming ocean on the overall sea ice cover, due to an isolating layer of cold and fresh water underneath the sea ice.

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“…Some of these changes have been either directly or indirectly linked to clouds (Francis and Hunter, 2006;Kay et al, 2008;Liu et al, 2008;Perovich et al, 2008;Kay and Gettelman, 2009;Vavrus et al, 2011), although the mechanisms…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cloud and boundary layer interactions over the Arctic sea ice in late summer

et al. 2013

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Abstract. Observations from the Arctic Summer CloudOcean Study (ASCOS), in the central Arctic sea-ice pack in late summer 2008, provide a detailed view of cloudatmosphere-surface interactions and vertical mixing processes over the sea-ice environment. Measurements from a suite of ground-based remote sensors, near-surface meteorological and aerosol instruments, and profiles from radiosondes and a helicopter are combined to characterize a weeklong period dominated by low-level, mixed-phase, stratocumulus clouds. Detailed case studies and statistical analyses are used to develop a conceptual model for the cloud and atmosphere structure and their interactions in this environment.Clouds were persistent during the period of study, having qualities that suggest they were sustained through a combination of advective influences and in-cloud processes, with little contribution from the surface. Radiative cooling near cloud top produced buoyancy-driven, turbulent eddies that contributed to cloud formation and created a cloud-driven mixed layer. The depth of this mixed layer was related to the amount of turbulence and condensed cloud water. Coupling of this cloud-driven mixed layer to the surface boundary layer was primarily determined by proximity. For 75 % of the period of study, the primary stratocumulus cloud-driven mixed layer was decoupled from the surface and typically at a warmer potential temperature. Since the near-surface temperature was constrained by the ocean-ice mixture, warm temperatures aloft suggest that these air masses had not significantly interacted with the sea-ice surface. Instead, backtrajectory analyses suggest that these warm air masses advected into the central Arctic Basin from lower latitudes. Moisture and aerosol particles likely accompanied these air masses, providing necessary support for cloud formation. On the occasions when cloud-surface coupling did occur, back trajectories indicated that these air masses advected at low levels, while mixing processes kept the mixed layer in equilibrium with the near-surface environment. Rather than contributing buoyancy forcing for the mixed-layer dynamics, the surface instead simply appeared to respond to the mixedlayer processes aloft. Clouds in these cases often contained slightly higher condensed water amounts, potentially due to additional moisture sources from below.

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Changes in Arctic clouds during intervals of rapid sea ice loss

Cited by 76 publications

References 54 publications

Effect of retreating sea ice on Arctic cloud cover in simulated recent global warming

Effect of retreating sea ice on Arctic cloud cover in simulated recent global warming

Recent advances in understanding the Arctic climate system state and change from a sea ice perspective: a review

Cloud and boundary layer interactions over the Arctic sea ice in late summer

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