Sea‐ice and meteorological conditions in Northern Baffin Bay and the North Water polynya between 1979 and 1996

Abstract

In this paper we provide an overview of the meteorological and sea-ice conditions within the northern portion of Baffin Bay and the region of the North Water (NOW) Polynya between Ellesmere Island and Greenland. Our results indicate an east-west temperature gradient across the NOW and Baffin Bay regions with colder temperatures on the Ellesmere Island coast (-14°C) and warmer temperatures on the Greenland coast (-9°C Nos résultats révèlent l'existence d'un gradient de température est-ouest à travers les régions de la polynie des eaux du Nord et de la baie de Baffin, les températures les plus froides se trouvant sur la côte de l'île d'Ellesmere (-14 °C) et les plus chaudes sur la côte du Groenland (-9 °C). Ce gradient est dû à l'advection d'air chaud (à haute altitude et dans la couche limite) résultant des courants atmosphériques dominants. La configuration de la pression au niveau de la mer (PNM) montre un creux inversé marqué dans la

Near‐surface‐temperature lapse rates on the Prince of Wales Icefield, Ellesmere Island, Canada: implications for regional downscaling of temperature

“…Smith Sound and northern Baffin Bay lie east of the icefield. The seasonal cycle of sea ice and open-water conditions in this region is complicated by the presence of the North Water polynya, a large seasonal open-water feature that may be a significant source of sensible heat and moisture for the icefield in late winter and spring (Barber et al, 2001). We shall return to the potential impact of the North Water polynya later.…”

Storm Studies in the Arctic (STAR)

“…It can be seen from the figure that there is an appreciable amount of attenuation in the W-band signal in the rain region (below 2 km). The overall warm-front structure is very similar to that of other mid-and high-latitude warm fronts (e.g., Hanesiak and Stewart 1995;Hanesiak et al 1996); however, the mixed precipitation area in IOP11 was much less significant than in some midlatitude counterparts, for reasons yet unknown. Analysis is ongoing, using other aircraft data to characterize the microphysical structure of the front and other more detailed kinematic and thermodynamic characteristics as well as GEM-LAM model analysis and validation.…”

“…Only one major Canadian-led experiment has focused on arctic storms-the 1994 Beaufort and Arctic Storms Experiment (BASE; Hudak et al 1995;Hanesiak et al 1996)-although the Mackenzie Global Energ y and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Study (MAGS) also carried out some storm observations (Stewart et al 1998). BASE and MAGS took place in the lee of the Western Cordillera, which significantly inf luence storm systems.…”

“…BASE and MAGS took place in the lee of the Western Cordillera, which significantly inf luence storm systems. For example, Hanesiak et al (1996) used aircraft and other field observations from BASE to study a high-latitude warm front and found that the overall structure of the warm front and surrounding region were similar to those of midlatitude storms; however, the precipitation rates, liquid water content (LWC), horizontal and vertical winds, turbulence, and thermal advection were generally weaker than those of the midlatitude counterparts. A steep frontal region resulted from strong Coriolis influences, limiting the amount of cloud and precipitation ahead of the system.…”

“…It is unclear whether the ice reductions are indicative of a secular trend associated with anthropogenic climate change (Serreze et al 2000), the result of low-frequency variability in the climate system (Deser et al 2000;Morison et al 2000), or with changes farther north in Baffin Bay and the Gulf of Boothia-the source region for sea ice that is advected into the region (Prinsenberg 1986;Barber et al 2001). Such a trend, regardless of its origin, will affect the weather systems in the region through an increase in the exchange of energy from the ocean to the atmosphere.…”