Variability in atmospheric circulation and moisture flux over the Arctic
Mean characteristics and variability in the spatio-temporal distribution of Arctic water vapour and vapour fluxes are examined using several different rawinsondederived databases. Precipitable water averaged over the polar cap, 70-90° N, peaks in July at 14.0 mm. Large poleward fluxes near the prime...
| Published in: | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Physical and Engineering Sciences |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Royal Society
1995
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.1995.0065 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsta.1995.0065 |
| Summary: | Mean characteristics and variability in the spatio-temporal distribution of Arctic water vapour and vapour fluxes are examined using several different rawinsondederived databases. Precipitable water averaged over the polar cap, 70-90° N, peaks in July at 14.0 mm. Large poleward fluxes near the prime meridian reflect transport associated with north Atlantic cyclones and, for most months, a local maximum in available water vapour. The mean vapour flux convergence averaged for the polar cap peaks in September. There is a mean annual excess of precipitation minus evaporation ( P — E ) of 163 mm, with a 78 mm range between extreme years. High P — E is favoured by a meridional circulation accompanied by a more dominant North Atlantic cyclone track. No trend in annual P — E is apparent over the 1974-1991 period. |
|---|