Polar Amplification Due to Enhanced Heat Flux Across the Halocline
Abstract Polar amplification is a widely discussed phenomenon, and a range of mechanisms have been proposed to contribute to it, many of which involve atmospheric and surface processes. However, substantial questions remain regarding the role of ocean heat transport. Previous studies have found that...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:db7328664dc349a5b9b806bc39215f75 2024-09-09T19:24:51+00:00 Polar Amplification Due to Enhanced Heat Flux Across the Halocline E. Beer I. Eisenman T. J. W. Wagner 2020-02-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL086706 https://doaj.org/article/db7328664dc349a5b9b806bc39215f75 EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL086706 https://doaj.org/toc/0094-8276 https://doaj.org/toc/1944-8007 1944-8007 0094-8276 doi:10.1029/2019GL086706 https://doaj.org/article/db7328664dc349a5b9b806bc39215f75 Geophysical Research Letters, Vol 47, Iss 4, Pp n/a-n/a (2020) Geophysics. Cosmic physics QC801-809 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL086706 2024-08-05T17:48:42Z Abstract Polar amplification is a widely discussed phenomenon, and a range of mechanisms have been proposed to contribute to it, many of which involve atmospheric and surface processes. However, substantial questions remain regarding the role of ocean heat transport. Previous studies have found that ocean heat transport into the Arctic increases under global warming, but the reasons behind this remain unresolved. Here, we investigate changes in oceanic heat fluxes and associated impacts on polar amplification using an idealized ocean‐sea ice‐climate model of the Northern Hemisphere. We show that beneath the sea ice, vertical temperature gradients across the halocline increase as the ocean warms, since the surface mixed layer temperatures in ice‐covered regions are fixed near the freezing point. These enhanced vertical temperature gradients drive enhanced horizontal heat transport into the polar region and can contribute substantially to polar amplification. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Global warming Sea ice Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Geophysical Research Letters 47 4 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Geophysics. Cosmic physics QC801-809 |
spellingShingle |
Geophysics. Cosmic physics QC801-809 E. Beer I. Eisenman T. J. W. Wagner Polar Amplification Due to Enhanced Heat Flux Across the Halocline |
topic_facet |
Geophysics. Cosmic physics QC801-809 |
description |
Abstract Polar amplification is a widely discussed phenomenon, and a range of mechanisms have been proposed to contribute to it, many of which involve atmospheric and surface processes. However, substantial questions remain regarding the role of ocean heat transport. Previous studies have found that ocean heat transport into the Arctic increases under global warming, but the reasons behind this remain unresolved. Here, we investigate changes in oceanic heat fluxes and associated impacts on polar amplification using an idealized ocean‐sea ice‐climate model of the Northern Hemisphere. We show that beneath the sea ice, vertical temperature gradients across the halocline increase as the ocean warms, since the surface mixed layer temperatures in ice‐covered regions are fixed near the freezing point. These enhanced vertical temperature gradients drive enhanced horizontal heat transport into the polar region and can contribute substantially to polar amplification. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
E. Beer I. Eisenman T. J. W. Wagner |
author_facet |
E. Beer I. Eisenman T. J. W. Wagner |
author_sort |
E. Beer |
title |
Polar Amplification Due to Enhanced Heat Flux Across the Halocline |
title_short |
Polar Amplification Due to Enhanced Heat Flux Across the Halocline |
title_full |
Polar Amplification Due to Enhanced Heat Flux Across the Halocline |
title_fullStr |
Polar Amplification Due to Enhanced Heat Flux Across the Halocline |
title_full_unstemmed |
Polar Amplification Due to Enhanced Heat Flux Across the Halocline |
title_sort |
polar amplification due to enhanced heat flux across the halocline |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL086706 https://doaj.org/article/db7328664dc349a5b9b806bc39215f75 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Global warming Sea ice |
genre_facet |
Arctic Global warming Sea ice |
op_source |
Geophysical Research Letters, Vol 47, Iss 4, Pp n/a-n/a (2020) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL086706 https://doaj.org/toc/0094-8276 https://doaj.org/toc/1944-8007 1944-8007 0094-8276 doi:10.1029/2019GL086706 https://doaj.org/article/db7328664dc349a5b9b806bc39215f75 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL086706 |
container_title |
Geophysical Research Letters |
container_volume |
47 |
container_issue |
4 |
_version_ |
1809894686327832576 |