Potential ocean–atmosphere preconditioning of late autumn Barents-Kara sea ice concentration anomaly

• Published in: Tellus A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography
• Main Authors: Martin P. King, Javier García-Serrano
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Stockholm University Press 2016
• Subjects: Arctic sea ice concentration; sea ice motion; boreal autumn climate; Oceanography; GC1-1581; Meteorology. Climatology; QC851-999; Arctic; Barents Sea; Kara Sea; North Atlantic; North Atlantic oscillation; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusa.v68.28580; https://doaj.org/article/01981854006c42258308915a36580061

Many recent studies have revealed the importance of the climatic state in November on the seasonal climate of the subsequent winter. In particular, it has been shown that interannual variability of sea ice concentration (SIC) over the Barents-Kara (BK) seas in November is linked to winter atmospheric circulation anomaly that projects on the North Atlantic Oscillation. Understanding the lead–lag processes involving the different components of the climate system from autumn to winter is therefore important. This note presents dynamical interpretation for the ice-ocean–atmosphere relationships that can affect the BK SIC anomaly in late autumn. It is found that cyclonic (anticyclonic) wind anomaly over the Arctic in October, by Ekman drift, can be responsible for positive (negative) SIC in the BK seas in November. The results also suggest that ocean heat transport via the Barents Sea Opening in September and October can contribute to BK SIC anomaly in November.