The Amundsen Sea Low: Variability, Change, and Impact on Antarctic Climate

Raphael, Marilyn; Marshall, Gareth J.; Turner, John; Fogt, Ryan L.; Schneider, David P.; Dixon, D. A.; Hosking, J. Scott; Jones, Julie Miller; Hobbs, Will

doi:10.1175/bams-d-14-00018.1

Cited by 298 publications

(298 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…A signif- icant negative RC anomaly near West Antarctica (grid box 4 in Fig. 6a with an explained variance of 35 %) is spatially coincident with the "pole of variability" in the AmundsenBellingshausen Sea low (ABSL) region (Fogt et al, 2012b, and references therein; Turner et al, 2013;Raphael et al, 2016). The midlatitude QSW3 patterns extended to subAntarctic latitudes are seen also in the RC distribution for T − 2 m and W 200 ( Fig.…”

Section: Relationships Between the Qsw Minimum Longitude And Meteorolmentioning

confidence: 75%

Evolution of the eastward shift in the quasi-stationary minimum of the Antarctic total ozone column

et al. 2017

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Abstract. The quasi-stationary pattern of the Antarctic total ozone has changed during the last 4 decades, showing an eastward shift in the zonal ozone minimum. In this work, the association between the longitudinal shift of the zonal ozone minimum and changes in meteorological fields in austral spring (September-November) for 1979-2014 is analyzed using ERA-Interim and NCEP-NCAR reanalyses. Regressive, correlative and anomaly composite analyses are applied to reanalysis data. Patterns of the Southern Annular Mode and quasi-stationary zonal waves 1 and 3 in the meteorological fields show relationships with interannual variability in the longitude of the zonal ozone minimum. On decadal timescales, consistent longitudinal shifts of the zonal ozone minimum and zonal wave 3 pattern in the middle-troposphere temperature at the southern midlatitudes are shown. Attribution runs of the chemistry-climate version of the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator (ACCESS-CCM) model suggest that long-term shifts of the zonal ozone minimum are separately contributed by changes in ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases. As is known, Antarctic ozone depletion in spring is strongly projected on the Southern Annular Mode in summer and impacts summertime surface climate across the Southern Hemisphere. The results of this study suggest that changes in zonal ozone asymmetry accompanying ozone depletion could be associated with regional climate changes in the Southern Hemisphere in spring.

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Section: Relationships Between the Qsw Minimum Longitude And Meteorolmentioning

confidence: 75%

Evolution of the eastward shift in the quasi-stationary minimum of the Antarctic total ozone column

et al. 2017

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“…In the Pacific sector the calibration period coincides with a shift in the phase of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO), which is known to influence the atmospheric circulation transporting moisture to Law Dome (Vance et al, 2015), from positive at the start of the period to negative from the late 1990s. The Southern Annular Mode (SAM), the dominant mode of atmospheric variability in the Southern Hemisphere, is predominantly in its positive phase during this period, which has been demonstrated to influence precipitation, especially in AP (Thomas et al, 2008;Abram et al, 2014) and WAIS (Fogt et al, 2012;Raphael et al, 2016). Therefore, some care must be taken when extrapolating results beyond the instrumental period.…”

Section: Representative Of Regional Smb?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This persistent area of low pressure, the result of the frequency and intensity of individual cyclones (Baines and Fraedrich, 1989;Turner et al, 2013), is known to affect the climatic conditions on the AP and WAIS Raphael et al, 2016).…”

Section: E R Thomas Et Al: Regional Antarctic Snow Accumulation Ovmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional Antarctic snow accumulation over the past 1000 years

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Here we present Antarctic snow accumulation variability at the regional scale over the past 1000 years. A total of 79 ice core snow accumulation records were gathered and assigned to seven geographical regions, separating the high-accumulation coastal zones below 2000 m of elevation from the dry central Antarctic Plateau. The regional composites of annual snow accumulation were evaluated against modelled surface mass balance (SMB) from RACMO2.3p2 and precipitation from ERA-Interim reanalysis. With the exception of the Weddell Sea coast, the low-elevation composites capture the regional precipitation and SMB variability as defined by the models. The central Antarctic sites lack coherency and either do not represent regional precipitation or indicate the model inability to capture relevant precipitation processes in the cold, dry central plateau. Our results show that SMB for the total Antarctic Ice Sheet (including ice shelves) has increased at a rate of 7 ± 0.13 Gt decade −1 since 1800 AD, representing a net reduction in sea level of ∼ 0.02 mm decade −1 since 1800 and ∼ 0.04 mm decade −1 since 1900 AD. The largest contribution is from the Antarctic Peninsula (∼ 75 %) where the annual average SMB during the most recent decade (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)) is 123 ± 44 Gt yr −1 higher than the annual average during the first decade of the 19th century. Only four ice core records cover the full 1000 years, and they suggest a decrease in snow accumulation during this period. However, our study emphasizes the importance of low-elevation coastal zones, which have been under-represented in previous investigations of temporal snow accumulation.

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“…The large changes in SIE between the Ross Sea and the WAP are driven by the combined influence of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the SAM, and their interaction with the ASL, the deepest low pressure cell around Antarctica (Arrigo and Thomas, 2004;Liu et al, 2004;Massom et al, 2008;Stammerjohn et al, 2008;Pezza et al, 2012;Raphael et al, 2016). The positive SAM phase and the La Niña phase of the ENSO have deepened the ASL.…”

Section: Seasonal Sea Ice Zonementioning

confidence: 99%

Southern Ocean Phytoplankton in a Changing Climate

2017

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Phytoplankton are the base of the Antarctic food web, sustain the wealth and diversity of life for which Antarctica is renowned, and play a critical role in biogeochemical cycles that mediate global climate. Over the vast expanse of the Southern Ocean (SO), the climate is variously predicted to experience increased warming, strengthening wind, acidification, shallowing mixed layer depths, increased light (and UV), changes in upwelling and nutrient replenishment, declining sea ice, reduced salinity, and the southward migration of ocean fronts. These changes are expected to alter the structure and function of phytoplankton communities in the SO. The diverse environments contained within the vast expanse of the SO will be impacted differently by climate change; causing the identity and the magnitude of environmental factors driving biotic change to vary within and among bioregions. Predicting the net effect of multiple climate-induced stressors over a range of environments is complex. Yet understanding the response of SO phytoplankton to climate change is vital if we are to predict the future state/s of the ecosystem, estimate the impacts on fisheries and endangered species, and accurately predict the effects of physical and biotic change in the SO on global climate. This review looks at the major environmental factors that define the structure and function of phytoplankton communities in the SO, examines the forecast changes in the SO environment, predicts the likely effect of these changes on phytoplankton, and considers the ramifications for trophodynamics and feedbacks to global climate change. Predictions strongly suggest that all regions of the SO will experience changes in phytoplankton productivity and community composition with climate change. The nature, and even the sign, of these changes varies within and among regions and will depend upon the magnitude and sequence in which these environmental changes are imposed. It is likely that predicted changes to phytoplankton communities will affect SO biogeochemistry, carbon export, and nutrition for higher trophic levels.

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The Amundsen Sea Low: Variability, Change, and Impact on Antarctic Climate

Cited by 298 publications

References 37 publications

Evolution of the eastward shift in the quasi-stationary minimum of the Antarctic total ozone column

Evolution of the eastward shift in the quasi-stationary minimum of the Antarctic total ozone column

Regional Antarctic snow accumulation over the past 1000 years

Southern Ocean Phytoplankton in a Changing Climate

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