The impact of atmospheric Rossby waves and cyclones on the Arctic sea ice variability

Hofsteenge, Marte G.; Graversen, Rune; Rydsaa, Johanne H.; Rey, Zoe Rodriguez del

doi:10.1007/s00382-022-06145-z

Cited by 9 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…The scale separation of the meridional energy transport by a zonal Fourier decomposition became popular in recent years. It was applied to study the mechanisms and impacts of energy transport in the Arctic region (Papritz and Dunn-Sigouin, 2020;Graversen et al, 2021;Rydsaa et al, 2021;Hofsteenge et al, 2022) and the NH mid-latitudes (Lembo et al, 2019). Further, numerous studies investigated the atmospheric dynamics in terms of Rossby waves at different spatial scales (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The global atmospheric energy transport analysed by a wavelength-based scale separation

Stoll

Graversen

Messori

2023

Weather Clim. Dynam.

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Abstract. The atmosphere transports energy polewards by circulation cells and eddies. To the present day, there has been a knowledge gap regarding the preferred spatial scales and physical mechanisms of eddy energy transport. To fill the gap, we separate the meridional atmospheric energy transport in the ERA5 reanalysis by spatial scales and into quasi-stationary and transient flow patterns and latent and dry components. Baroclinic instability is the major instability mechanism in the transient synoptic scales and is responsible for forming cyclones, anticyclones, and small-scale Rossby waves. At the planetary scales, circulation patterns are often induced by other mechanisms such as flow interaction with orography and land–sea heating contrasts. However, a separation between circulation patterns at the synoptic and planetary scales has yet to be established. We find that both baroclinically induced and transient energy transport is predominantly associated with eddies at wavelengths between 2000 and 8000 km. The maxima in both types of transport occur at wavelengths around 5000 km, in good agreement with linear baroclinic theory. Since these results are independent of latitude, we adapt the scale separation of the energy transport to be based on the wavelength instead of the previously used wavenumber. We define the synoptic transport by the wavelength band between 2000 and 8000 km. We analyse the annual and seasonal mean in the energy transport components and their inter-annual variability. The scale-separated transport components are fairly similar in both hemispheres. Transport by synoptic waves is the largest contributor to extra-tropical energy and moisture transport, mainly of a transient character, and is influenced little by seasonality. In contrast, transport by planetary waves depends highly on the season and has two distinct characteristics. (1) In the extra-tropical winter, planetary waves are important due to a large transport of dry energy. This planetary transport features the largest inter-annual variability of all components and is mainly quasi-stationary in the Northern Hemisphere but transient in its southern counterpart. (2) In the sub-tropical summer, quasi-stationary planetary waves are the most important transport component, mainly due to moisture transport, presumably associated with monsoons. In contrast to transport by planetary and synoptic waves, only a negligible amount of energy is transported by mesoscale eddies (< 2000 km).

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The global atmospheric energy transport analysed by a wavelength-based scale separation

Stoll

Graversen

Messori

2023

Weather Clim. Dynam.

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“…Remote influences can be subdivided into atmospheric versus oceanic meridional transport. The shorter-term variability of Arctic climate is mainly influenced by atmospheric meridional transport through the poleward advection of heat and moisture (Graversen 2006;Hofsteenge et al 2022;Kapsch et al 2019). Reusen et al (2019) suggest that IAV of atmospheric meridional transport across 70 • N increases along with a warmer climate, partly as a result of increased mean latent heat fluxes (Graversen and Burtu 2016;Feldl et al 2020;Reusen et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal and regional contrasts of future trends in interannual arctic climate variability

Kolbe

Linden

2023

Clim Dyn

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Future changes in interannual variability (IAV) of Arctic climate indicators such as sea ice and precipitation are still fairly uncertain. Alongside global warming-induced changes in means, a thorough understanding of IAV is needed to more accurately predict sea ice variability, distinguish trends and natural variability, as well as to reduce uncertainty around the likelihood of extreme events. In this study we rank and select CMIP6 models based on their ability to replicate observations, and quantify simulated IAV trends (1981–2100) of Arctic surface air temperature, evaporation, precipitation, and sea ice concentration under continued global warming. We argue that calculating IAV on grid points before area-averaging allows for a more realistic picture of Arctic-wide changes. Large model ensembles suggest that on shorter time scales (30 years), IAV of all variables is strongly dominated by natural variability (e.g. 93% for sea ice area in March). Long-term trends of IAV are more robust, and reveal strong seasonal and regional differences in their magnitude or even sign. For example, IAV of surface temperature increases in the Central Arctic, but decreases in lower latitudes. Arctic precipitation variability increases more in summer than in winter; especially over land, where in the future it will dominantly fall as rain. Our results emphasize the need to address such seasonal and regional differences when portraying future trends of Arctic climate variability.

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Increased atmospheric river frequency slowed the seasonal recovery of Arctic sea ice in recent decades

Zhang

Chen

Ting

et al. 2022

Preprint

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In recent decades, Arctic sea ice coverage experienced a drastic decline in winter, when sea ice is expected to recover following the melting season. Using observations and climate model simulations, we found a robust frequency increase in atmospheric rivers (ARs, intense corridors of moisture transport) over Barents-Kara Seas and the neighboring central Arctic (ABK) in early winter. The extensive moisture carried by more frequent ARs has intensified surface downward longwave radiation and liquid rainfall, caused stronger melting of thin, fragile ice cover, and slowed the seasonal recovery of sea ice, contributing to the sea ice cover decline in ABK. A series of model ensemble experiments suggests that, in addition to a uniform AR increase in response to anthropogenic forcing, the contribution of tropical Pacific variability is indispensable in the observed Arctic AR changes.These findings have significant implications for understanding the rapidly changing Arctic hydroclimate and the cryosphere.

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The impact of atmospheric Rossby waves and cyclones on the Arctic sea ice variability

Cited by 9 publications

References 49 publications

The global atmospheric energy transport analysed by a wavelength-based scale separation

The global atmospheric energy transport analysed by a wavelength-based scale separation

Seasonal and regional contrasts of future trends in interannual arctic climate variability

Increased atmospheric river frequency slowed the seasonal recovery of Arctic sea ice in recent decades

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