Atmospheric River Brings Warmth and Rainfall to the Northern Antarctic Peninsula During the Mid‐Austral Winter of 2023

Abstract Contrasting the extensive research on summer atmospheric rivers (ARs) in the Antarctic Peninsula (AP), winter AR impacts are less understood. This study examines a unique warming event from 1 to 3 July 2023, using in situ winter observations and ERA5 reanalysis. On 2 July, Frei station expe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical Research Letters
Main Authors: D. Bozkurt, J. F. Carrasco, R. R. Cordero, F. Fernandoy, A. Gómez‐Contreras, B. Carrillo, B. Guan
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024
Subjects:
atmospheric river
warm events
climate extremes
Antarctica
rainfall
moisture transport
Geophysics. Cosmic physics
QC801-809
Antarc*
Antarctic
Antarctic Peninsula
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108391
https://doaj.org/article/9db1c8c7c4e049dab957e850ce5f4295
Description
Summary:Abstract Contrasting the extensive research on summer atmospheric rivers (ARs) in the Antarctic Peninsula (AP), winter AR impacts are less understood. This study examines a unique warming event from 1 to 3 July 2023, using in situ winter observations and ERA5 reanalysis. On 2 July, Frei station experienced an extreme warm event with a temperature of 2.7°C and a significant rise in the freezing level, coinciding with winter rainfall. A pressure dipole pattern over the AP, with contrasting circulations over Bellingshausen and Weddell Seas, facilitated an AR, carrying warm, humid air initially from South America/Atlantic and then the southeast Pacific. This shift resulted in anomalous water stable isotope composition in precipitation. Trends suggest a strengthening winter pressure dipole, associated with increased AR frequency and higher temperatures in northern AP. These findings highlight the importance of winter observations in exploring AR impacts, bridging knowledge gaps about winter AR behaviors.

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