Record low sea ice extent in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica in April/May 2019 driven by intense and explosive polar cyclones
Abstract Sea ice extent (SIE) in the Weddell Sea attained exceptionally low levels in April (1.97 million km2) and May (3.06 million km2) 2019, with the values being ~22% below the long-term mean. Using in-situ, satellite and atmospheric reanalysis data, we show the large negative SIE anomalies were...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-022-00243-9 https://doaj.org/article/6153e1af961b4ff0a4a0ae653d3d1c54 |
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fttriple:oai:gotriple.eu:oai:doaj.org/article:6153e1af961b4ff0a4a0ae653d3d1c54 2023-05-15T13:59:02+02:00 Record low sea ice extent in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica in April/May 2019 driven by intense and explosive polar cyclones B. Jena C. C. Bajish J. Turner M. Ravichandran N. Anilkumar S. Kshitija 2022-03-01 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-022-00243-9 https://doaj.org/article/6153e1af961b4ff0a4a0ae653d3d1c54 en eng Nature Portfolio doi:10.1038/s41612-022-00243-9 2397-3722 https://doaj.org/article/6153e1af961b4ff0a4a0ae653d3d1c54 undefined npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, Vol 5, Iss 1, Pp 1-15 (2022) geo envir Journal Article https://vocabularies.coar-repositories.org/resource_types/c_6501/ 2022 fttriple https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-022-00243-9 2023-01-22T19:28:33Z Abstract Sea ice extent (SIE) in the Weddell Sea attained exceptionally low levels in April (1.97 million km2) and May (3.06 million km2) 2019, with the values being ~22% below the long-term mean. Using in-situ, satellite and atmospheric reanalysis data, we show the large negative SIE anomalies were driven by the passage of a series of intense and explosive polar cyclones (with record low pressure), also known as atmospheric ‘bombs’, which had atmospheric rivers on their eastern flanks. These storms led to the poleward propagation of record-high swell and wind waves (~9.6 m), resulting in southward ice advection (~50 km). Thermodynamic processes also played a part, including record anomalous atmospheric heat (>138 W m−2) and moisture (>300 kg m−1s−1) fluxes from midlatitudes, along with ocean mixed-layer warming (>2 °C). The atmospheric circulation anomalies were associated with an amplified wave number three pattern leading to enhanced meridional flow between midlatitudes and the Antarctic. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Sea ice Weddell Sea Unknown Antarctic The Antarctic Weddell Weddell Sea npj Climate and Atmospheric Science 5 1 |
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geo envir B. Jena C. C. Bajish J. Turner M. Ravichandran N. Anilkumar S. Kshitija Record low sea ice extent in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica in April/May 2019 driven by intense and explosive polar cyclones |
topic_facet |
geo envir |
description |
Abstract Sea ice extent (SIE) in the Weddell Sea attained exceptionally low levels in April (1.97 million km2) and May (3.06 million km2) 2019, with the values being ~22% below the long-term mean. Using in-situ, satellite and atmospheric reanalysis data, we show the large negative SIE anomalies were driven by the passage of a series of intense and explosive polar cyclones (with record low pressure), also known as atmospheric ‘bombs’, which had atmospheric rivers on their eastern flanks. These storms led to the poleward propagation of record-high swell and wind waves (~9.6 m), resulting in southward ice advection (~50 km). Thermodynamic processes also played a part, including record anomalous atmospheric heat (>138 W m−2) and moisture (>300 kg m−1s−1) fluxes from midlatitudes, along with ocean mixed-layer warming (>2 °C). The atmospheric circulation anomalies were associated with an amplified wave number three pattern leading to enhanced meridional flow between midlatitudes and the Antarctic. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
B. Jena C. C. Bajish J. Turner M. Ravichandran N. Anilkumar S. Kshitija |
author_facet |
B. Jena C. C. Bajish J. Turner M. Ravichandran N. Anilkumar S. Kshitija |
author_sort |
B. Jena |
title |
Record low sea ice extent in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica in April/May 2019 driven by intense and explosive polar cyclones |
title_short |
Record low sea ice extent in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica in April/May 2019 driven by intense and explosive polar cyclones |
title_full |
Record low sea ice extent in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica in April/May 2019 driven by intense and explosive polar cyclones |
title_fullStr |
Record low sea ice extent in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica in April/May 2019 driven by intense and explosive polar cyclones |
title_full_unstemmed |
Record low sea ice extent in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica in April/May 2019 driven by intense and explosive polar cyclones |
title_sort |
record low sea ice extent in the weddell sea, antarctica in april/may 2019 driven by intense and explosive polar cyclones |
publisher |
Nature Portfolio |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-022-00243-9 https://doaj.org/article/6153e1af961b4ff0a4a0ae653d3d1c54 |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic Weddell Weddell Sea |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic Weddell Weddell Sea |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Sea ice Weddell Sea |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Sea ice Weddell Sea |
op_source |
npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, Vol 5, Iss 1, Pp 1-15 (2022) |
op_relation |
doi:10.1038/s41612-022-00243-9 2397-3722 https://doaj.org/article/6153e1af961b4ff0a4a0ae653d3d1c54 |
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https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-022-00243-9 |
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npj Climate and Atmospheric Science |
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5 |
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1 |
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