Accelerated increase in the Arctic tropospheric warming events surpassing stratospheric warming events during winter: Accelerated Increase in Arctic Warming

In January 2016, a robust reversal of the Arctic Oscillation (AO) took place associated with a rapid tropospheric warming in the Arctic region; this was followed by the occurrence of a classic sudden stratospheric warming in March-April. The succession of these two distinct Arctic warming events pro...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical Research Letters
Main Authors: Wang, S. -Y. Simon, Lin, Yen-Heng, Lee, Ming-Ying, Yoon, Jin-Ho, Meyer, Jonathan D. D., Rasch, Philip J.
Language:unknown
Published: 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1439712
https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1439712
https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL073012
Description
Summary:In January 2016, a robust reversal of the Arctic Oscillation (AO) took place associated with a rapid tropospheric warming in the Arctic region; this was followed by the occurrence of a classic sudden stratospheric warming in March-April. The succession of these two distinct Arctic warming events provides a stimulating opportunity to examine their characteristics in terms of similarities and differences. Historical cases of these two types of Arctic warming were identified and validated based upon tropical linkages with the Madden-Julian Oscillation and El NiƱo as well as those documented in previous studies. Our results indicate a recent and accelerated increase in the tropospheric warming type versus a flat trend in stratospheric warming type. Given that tropospheric warming events occur twice as fast than the stratospheric warming type, the noted increase in the former implies further intensification in midlatitude winter weather extremes similar to those experienced in early 2016. Forced simulations with an atmospheric general circulation model suggest that the reduced Arctic sea ice contributes to the observed increase in the tropospheric warming events and associated impact on the anomalously cold Siberia.