Singular value decomposition of Arctic Sea ice cover and overlying atmospheric circulation fluctuations

• Main Author: Yi, Dingrong, 1969-
• Other Authors: Mysak, Lawrence A. (advisor)
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: McGill University 1998
• Subjects: Physical Geography; Physical Oceanography; Physics; Atmospheric Science; Arctic; Greenland; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=20610

The relationship between the Arctic and sub-Arctic sea-ice concentration (SIC) anomalies, particularly those associated with the Greenland and Labrador Seas' "Ice and Salinity Anomalies (ISAs)" occurring during the 1960s/1970s, 1970s/1980s, and 1980s/1990s, and the overlying atmospheric circulation (SLP) fluctuations is investigated using the Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) and Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) analysis methods. The data used are monthly SIC and SLP anomalies, which cover the Northern Hemisphere north of 450 and extend over the 38-year period 1954--1991. One goal of the thesis is to describe the spatial and temporal variability of SIC and atmospheric circulation on interannual and decadal timescales. Another goal is to investigate the nature and strength of the air-ice interactions. The air-ice interactions are investigated in detail in the first SVD mode of the coupled variability, which is characterized by decadal-to-interdecadal timescales. Subsequently, the nature and strength of the air-ice interactions are studied in the second SVD mode, which shows a long-term trend. The interactions in the third SVD mode which has an interannual timescale are briefly mentioned. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)