Atmosphere circulation patterns synchronize pan-Arctic glacier melt and permafrost thaw

Abstract The Arctic is changing rapidly due to the amplification of global temperature trends, causing profound impacts on the ice sheet in Greenland, glaciers, frozen ground, ecosystems, and societies. Here, we focus on impacts that atmospheric circulation causes in addition to the climate warming...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Communications Earth & Environment
Main Authors: Ingo Sasgen, Grit Steinhoefel, Caroline Kasprzyk, Heidrun Matthes, Sebastian Westermann, Julia Boike, Guido Grosse
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024
Subjects:
Geology
QE1-996.5
Environmental sciences
GE1-350
Active layer monitoring
Active layer thickness
Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring Network
Climate change
glacier
Greenland
Ice
Ice Sheet
North Pole
permafrost
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01548-8
https://doaj.org/article/b532655fbcc6476ba3d2ad19f2a69f2b
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Summary:Abstract The Arctic is changing rapidly due to the amplification of global temperature trends, causing profound impacts on the ice sheet in Greenland, glaciers, frozen ground, ecosystems, and societies. Here, we focus on impacts that atmospheric circulation causes in addition to the climate warming trends. We combine time series of glacier mass balance from temporal satellite gravimetry measurements (GRACE/GRACE-FO; 2002–2023), active layer thickness in permafrost areas from ESA’s Climate Change Initiative remote sensing and modelling product (2003–2019), and field measurements of the Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring Network (2002–2023). Despite regional and system-related complexities, we identify robust covariations between these observations, which vary asynchronously between neighbouring regions and synchronously in regions antipodal to the North Pole. We reveal a close connection with dominant modes of atmosphere circulation, controlling about 75% of the common pan-Arctic impact variability (2002–2022), also affecting the Greenland Ice Sheet. We emphasize that it is necessary to consider such atmospheric driving patterns when projecting impacts, particularly caused by extremes, in an increasingly warmer Arctic.

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