The influence of Arctic amplification on mid-latitude summer circulation
Accelerated warming in the Arctic, as compared to the rest of the globe, might have profound impacts on mid-latitude weather. Most studies analyzing Arctic links to mid-latitude weather focused on winter, yet recent summers have seen strong reductions in sea-ice extent and snow cover, a weakened equ...
| Published in: | Nature Communications |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2018
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/c677e311-2a59-4c4c-a225-b3b359879e6a https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-05256-8 https://hdl.handle.net/1871.1/c677e311-2a59-4c4c-a225-b3b359879e6a http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85051964422&partnerID=8YFLogxK http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85051964422&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
| Summary: | Accelerated warming in the Arctic, as compared to the rest of the globe, might have profound impacts on mid-latitude weather. Most studies analyzing Arctic links to mid-latitude weather focused on winter, yet recent summers have seen strong reductions in sea-ice extent and snow cover, a weakened equator-to-pole thermal gradient and associated weakening of the mid-latitude circulation. We review the scientific evidence behind three leading hypotheses on the influence of Arctic changes on mid-latitude summer weather: Weakened storm tracks, shifted jet streams, and amplified quasi-stationary waves. We show that interactions between Arctic teleconnections and other remote and regional feedback processes could lead to more persistent hot-dry extremes in the mid-latitudes. The exact nature of these non-linear interactions is not well quantified but they provide potential high-impact risks for society. |
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