Momentum Budget of the atmospheric boundary layer over the Greenland ice sheet and its surrounding seas
The atmospheric circulation patterns over the Greenland ice sheet and its surrounding seas are studied by explicitly calculating the momentum budget components, using data of a high‐resolution regional atmospheric climate model. In winter (DJF), the katabatic pressure gradient force (PGF) dominates...
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ftunivutrecht:oai:dspace.library.uu.nl:1874/231537 2023-07-23T04:19:30+02:00 Momentum Budget of the atmospheric boundary layer over the Greenland ice sheet and its surrounding seas van Angelen, J.H. van den Broeke, M.R. van de Berg, W.J. Marine and Atmospheric Research Sub Dynamics Meteorology Dep Natuurkunde 2011 image/pdf https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/231537 en eng 0148-0227 https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/231537 info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess Article 2011 ftunivutrecht 2023-07-02T00:05:07Z The atmospheric circulation patterns over the Greenland ice sheet and its surrounding seas are studied by explicitly calculating the momentum budget components, using data of a high‐resolution regional atmospheric climate model. In winter (DJF), the katabatic pressure gradient force (PGF) dominates the momentum budget of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) over the ice sheet. Over the western slopes of the ice sheet, the large‐scale PGF acts in the same direction as the katabatic PGF, resulting in a strong southerly jet of up to 12 m s−1. In winter, the accumulation of cold air over the sea ice along the northeast coast leads to a thermally induced northerly flow. This circulation facilitates southward sea ice transport in this area and is enhanced by the large‐scale circulation. Along the west coast, a similar west‐east temperature gradient also forces a northerly flow. In the summer months, sea ice is absent, and thermal wind forcing is largely reduced over the ocean. Summer insolation also reduces katabatic forcing; the large‐scale forcing dominates the ABL momentum budget over the ice sheet. Heating of the ABL over the snow‐free tundra induces thermal contrasts with the ice sheet and ocean, forcing barrier winds in the coastal regions. Throughout the year, strong surface layer winds along the southeast coast of Greenland are forced by the large‐scale PGF. Article in Journal/Newspaper Greenland Ice Sheet Sea ice Tundra Utrecht University Repository Greenland |
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Open Polar |
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Utrecht University Repository |
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ftunivutrecht |
language |
English |
description |
The atmospheric circulation patterns over the Greenland ice sheet and its surrounding seas are studied by explicitly calculating the momentum budget components, using data of a high‐resolution regional atmospheric climate model. In winter (DJF), the katabatic pressure gradient force (PGF) dominates the momentum budget of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) over the ice sheet. Over the western slopes of the ice sheet, the large‐scale PGF acts in the same direction as the katabatic PGF, resulting in a strong southerly jet of up to 12 m s−1. In winter, the accumulation of cold air over the sea ice along the northeast coast leads to a thermally induced northerly flow. This circulation facilitates southward sea ice transport in this area and is enhanced by the large‐scale circulation. Along the west coast, a similar west‐east temperature gradient also forces a northerly flow. In the summer months, sea ice is absent, and thermal wind forcing is largely reduced over the ocean. Summer insolation also reduces katabatic forcing; the large‐scale forcing dominates the ABL momentum budget over the ice sheet. Heating of the ABL over the snow‐free tundra induces thermal contrasts with the ice sheet and ocean, forcing barrier winds in the coastal regions. Throughout the year, strong surface layer winds along the southeast coast of Greenland are forced by the large‐scale PGF. |
author2 |
Marine and Atmospheric Research Sub Dynamics Meteorology Dep Natuurkunde |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
van Angelen, J.H. van den Broeke, M.R. van de Berg, W.J. |
spellingShingle |
van Angelen, J.H. van den Broeke, M.R. van de Berg, W.J. Momentum Budget of the atmospheric boundary layer over the Greenland ice sheet and its surrounding seas |
author_facet |
van Angelen, J.H. van den Broeke, M.R. van de Berg, W.J. |
author_sort |
van Angelen, J.H. |
title |
Momentum Budget of the atmospheric boundary layer over the Greenland ice sheet and its surrounding seas |
title_short |
Momentum Budget of the atmospheric boundary layer over the Greenland ice sheet and its surrounding seas |
title_full |
Momentum Budget of the atmospheric boundary layer over the Greenland ice sheet and its surrounding seas |
title_fullStr |
Momentum Budget of the atmospheric boundary layer over the Greenland ice sheet and its surrounding seas |
title_full_unstemmed |
Momentum Budget of the atmospheric boundary layer over the Greenland ice sheet and its surrounding seas |
title_sort |
momentum budget of the atmospheric boundary layer over the greenland ice sheet and its surrounding seas |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/231537 |
geographic |
Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Greenland |
genre |
Greenland Ice Sheet Sea ice Tundra |
genre_facet |
Greenland Ice Sheet Sea ice Tundra |
op_relation |
0148-0227 https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/231537 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess |
_version_ |
1772182674142658560 |