The ‘Warm-Arctic/Cold-Continents’ pattern during 1901-2010

• Published in: International Journal of Climatology
• Main Authors: Chen, L., Francis, J., Hanna, Edward
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2018
• Subjects: F860 Climatology; Arctic
• Online Access: https://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/id/eprint/32149/; https://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/id/eprint/32149/1/WACC_IJOC_201803.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.5725

The ‘Warm-Arctic/Cold-Continents’ (WACC) winter weather pattern is investigated using the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts 20th Century reanalysis data (ERA20C) spanning 1901-2010. Both the 1920-1940 and 1990-2010 periods are characterized by Arctic amplification (AA) and mid-latitude continental cooling, although the Arctic warming signal for 1990-2010 is twice as strong as that for 1920-1940. Significant weakening in the mid-latitude poleward temperature gradient and zonal wind, wavier upper-level flow character, and strong regional blocking frequency/intensity changes are also detected during both AA periods. These results based on statistical analyses highlight the possible role of AA in affecting mid-latitude weather patterns, but further work is needed to quantify the influence of AA on particular mid-latitude dynamical features.