Original Research Papers
Stratospheric response to Arctic sea ice retreat and associated planetary wave propagation changes
Authors:
- Ralf Jaiser
Email Ralf Jaiser
- Klaus Dethloff
- Dörthe Handorf
Abstract
The stratospheric response to the observed Arctic sea ice retreat is analysed based on European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) Re-Analysis Interim (ERA-Interim) atmospheric data from 1979–2012. It is shown that changes in August/September sea ice concentration impact on tropospheric and stratospheric geopotential heights in the following winter. During low ice phases a negative tropospheric Arctic Oscillation pattern is found, which is connected to a weakened stratospheric polar vortex and warmer stratospheric temperatures. Furthermore, the analysis reveals enhanced upward EP fluxes due to planetary waves for low ice conditions. Strong stratospheric anomalies in the Atlantic/European region are associated with a weaker polar vortex. Low ice periods are connected with additional tropospheric wave energy excitation in the Pacific/North America region and influence the stratosphere through three-dimensional planetary wave propagation.
- Year: 2013
- Volume: 65 Issue: 1
- Page/Article: 19375
- DOI: 10.3402/tellusa.v65i0.19375
- Submitted on 10 Aug 2012
- Accepted on 29 May 2013
- Published on 1 Dec 2013
- Peer Reviewed