The influence of winter and summer atmospheric circulation on the variability of temperature and sea ice around Greenland

Abstract

A B S T R A C T Most peripheral seas of the Arctic Ocean have seen a pronounced rise in sea surface temperatures in the past century, and this signature of Arctic amplification in proximity to the land suggests that the observed marine and terrestrial changes might be connected to each other. Using in situ observations of temperature from nine coastal meteorological stations around Greenland (GrSTs) and remotely sensed fields of sea ice extent (SIE), we examine the interannual variations of surface air temperature (T2m) and sea level pressure (SLP) anomalies associated with the GrSTs and SIEs surrounding Greenland, specifically within Baffin Bay, the Greenland Sea and KaraBarents Seas. During winter, the interannual variation in T2m and SLP of the west and south coasts of GrSTs and the Baffin Bay SIE are different from that of the east coast of GrSTs and the SIEs in the Greenland Sea and Kara-Barents Seas. The GrSTs on the west and south coasts of Greenland and the Baffin Bay SIE are associated with the T2m anomalies over Baffin Bay and Davis Strait. The winter SLP patterns associated with these GrSTs and SIEs show positive anomalies over the Arctic and negative anomalies over the North Atlantic with a largescale atmospheric circulation such as the winter NAO. On the contrary, the east coast of GrSTs and the SIEs in the Greenland Sea and Kara-Barents Seas are correlated with the T2m anomalies over the Greenland Sea and Barents Sea. The surface wind pattern associated with the SIEs in the Greenland Sea and Kara-Barents Seas has a cyclonic circulation in the Greenland Sea and Barents Sea. At the local scale the cyclonic circulation could induce negative SIE anomalies and contribute to increasing open water in the Greenland Sea and Barents Sea. The effect of the loss of sea ice and the heat from the open ocean warming to the atmosphere may influence the GrSTs in the east coast of Greenland. As a result, the T2m pattern associated with the GrSTs in the east coast of Greenland is similar to the pattern of the SIEs in the Greenland Sea and Kara-Barents Seas. During summer, the T2m anomalies associated with all GrSTs and SIEs have positive anomalies over mid-latitudes. The two times series of all GrSTs and SIEs fluctuate quickly and display large trends towards warming temperatures and decreasing SIE. The summer SLP associated with all GrSTs and SIEs are characterised by a seesaw pattern between positive anomalies over the Arctic and negative anomalies over mid-latitudes. The summer SLP anomalies are similar to the summer AO pattern, and it is noteworthy that the summer anticyclonic circulation over the Arctic and Greenland has contributed to the variability and trends in both summer GrSTs and SIEs.

Atmospheric circulation modulates the spatial variability of temperature in the Atlantic–Arctic region

“…This energy is then advected to other regions, depending on the direction of the wind. Similarly, the inter‐annual correlation between warm temperature in eastern Greenland and low sea‐ice volume during cyclonic conditions in the Barents Sea was shown by Ogi et al ().…”

Analyzing links between simulated Laptev Sea sea ice and atmospheric conditions over adjoining landmasses using causal-effect networks

“…However, we do not rule out that changes in whole-Arctic sea-ice cover can have an impact on land through large-scale circulation, and connections between sea ice and atmospheric circulation patterns have been shown before (e.g. Ogi et al (2016)). In contrast to Lawrence et al (2008), who focused on the impact of rapid sea-ice loss, without analyzing its drivers, we investigate drivers and impacts of equilibrium sea-ice variability.…”

“…They conclude, that local changes in the energy budget and ensuing temperature variations are the main mediator of a causal link from sea-ice decline to increased methane emissions. Ogi et al (2016) investigated links between observed sea-level air pressure, two-meter air temperature and sea-ice extent in Hudson Bay and the Arctic Ocean. In contrast to Parmentier et al (2015), they associated variability in both sea-ice cover and air temperature over the adjacent land with larger-scale atmospheric circulation fields.…”

Combined impact of Greenland sea ice, Eurasian snow, and El Niño–Southern Oscillation on Indian and Korean summer monsoons

“…However, here the response to Arctic sea ice was different; there was a normal mode of the NAO pattern with a subpolar low (approximately 60°N) and mid‐latitude high (approximately 40°N) (SON(0) and DJF(0/1) panels in Figure a). Several other studies have also pointed out that sea ice variations around the eastern part of Greenland induce a local response in the atmospheric circulation unlike the NAO entity (Deser et al ., ; Ogi et al ., ).…”

“…However, here the response to Arctic sea ice was different; there was a normal mode of the NAO pattern with a subpolar low (approximately 60 N) and mid-latitude high (approximately 40 N) (SON(0) and DJF(0/1) panels in Figure 4a). Several other studies have also pointed out that sea ice variations around the eastern part of Greenland induce a local response in the atmospheric circulation unlike the NAO entity (Deser et al, 2000;Ogi et al, 2016). Next, in the case of Eurasian snow, a dominant zonal wave train-like positive Eurasian teleconnection pattern (EU) (Wallace and Gutzler, 1981) appears over 30-70 N for MAM(1) and was weakly sustained until JJA(1) (Figure 4b).…”