Inter-Relations between the Arctic Sea Ice and the General Circulation of the Atmosphere

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Wendler, G., Nagashima, Y.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1987
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Arctic; Pacific; Journal of Glaciology; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000008662; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000008662

Abstract Satellite imagery has substantially improved the quality of sea-ice observation over the last decades. Therefore, for a 25 year period, a statistical study based on the monthly Arctic sea-ice data and the monthly mean 700 mbar maps of the Northern Hemisphere was carried out to establish the relationships between sea-ice conditions and the general circulation of the atmosphere. It was found that sea-ice conditions have two opposing effects on the zonal circulation intensity, depending on the season. Heavier than normal ice in winter causes stronger than normal zonal circulation in the subsequent months, whereas heavier than normal ice in the summer-fall causes weaker zonal circulation in the subsequent months. Analyzing the two sectors, the Atlantic and Pacific ones separately, a negative correlation was found, which means a heavy ice year in the Atlantic Ocean is normally associated with a light one in the Pacific Ocean and vice versa.