Investigating the link between Arctic sea ice, North Pacific geopotential height anomalies, and precipitation across the United States

• Main Author: Zobel, Zachary T
• Other Authors: Wuebbles, Donald
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: jet stream amplification; Arctic; Pacific; Sea ice; Alaska
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2142/89264

New evidence is presented to show that decreasing sea ice in the Arctic is causing an increased amplification of the jet stream off the west coast of the United States. We find a statistically significant relationship between sea ice north of Alaska and geopotential height anomalies during the following winter and spring months. We also show that these semi-persistent height anomalies are increasing in frequency in these locations independent of long term ocean cycles, such as ENSO and PDO. These height anomalies cause more persistent precipitation patterns to certain regions of the United States and we discuss these teleconnections as well as their impacts. These results suggest that as the Arctic, specifically the region north of Alaska, continues to decrease in sea ice coverage a more persistent ridge will form in areas adjacent to this location and affect storm track to the continental United States.