Shortwave aerosol optical depth of Arctic haze measured on board the NOAA WP-3D during AGASP-II,April 1986

Measurements of spectral aerosol optical depth in the Alaskan and Canadian Arctic were made from the NOAA Lockheed WP-3D aircraft as part of the second Arctic Gas and Aerosol Sampling Program (AGASP-II) during April 1986. The flight tracks and altitudes flown enabled measurements of the vertical and horizontal distribution of aerosol optical depth in the troposphere as well as direct determination of the stratospheric component. Tropospheric aerosol optical depth ranged from about 0.1 to 0.7. The factor of 7 variability sometimes occurred within 50 km horizontally; comparable variability occurred within less than 1 to 2 km vertically. The Angstrom exponents of the spectral optical depths ranged from 0.5 to 2.0, and some of the variability was apparently related to distinct aerosol regimes.     

北极臭氧垂直分布和天气尺度变化的观测研究

北极地区臭氧对北极气候和环境系统起着重要作用。研究其分布和变化有助于了解北极的气候和环境及其对全球气候系统的影响,有助于气候和环境变化的数值预报。中国北极科学探测1999在北冰洋楚可奇海域成功的进行了大气臭氧观测。通过在中国“雪龙”号破冰船甲板上（于1999年8月18-24日在75°N,160°W附近处）释放大气臭氧探空仪获得了高分辨率的大气垂直结构和臭氧分布资料,可以进行大气尺度的大气臭氧变化研究。分析大气监测资料、TOMS臭氧总量资料和NCEP大气环流资料表明,大气臭氧总量随着对流层顶的低一高一低变化呈高一低一高的变化过程。研究还表明,大气柱的臭氧总量与13公里以下的大气臭氧含量关系密切,而在约20公里处的大气臭氧浓度最大值的变化与整个气柱臭氧的关系不大。500 hPa天气形势图上一个弱一强一弱的西南天气型造成的弱臭氧平流可能是这次臭氧变化的主要原因。     

Linking the northern hemisphere sea-ice reduction trend and the quasi-decadal arctic sea-ice oscillation

The nature of the reduction trend and quasi-decadal oscillation in Northern Hemisphere sea-ice extent is investigated. The trend and oscillation that seem to be two separate phenomena have been found in data. This study examines a hypothesis that the Arctic sea-ice reduction trend in the last three decades amplified the quasi-decadal Arctic sea-ice oscillation (ASIO) due to a positive ice/ocean-albedo feedback, based on data analysis and a conceptual model proposed by Ikeda et al. The theoretical, conceptual model predicts that the quasi-decadal oscillation is amplified by the thinning sea-ice, leading to the ASIO, which is driven by the strong positive feedback between the atmosphere and ice-ocean systems. Such oscillation is predicted to be out-of-phase between the Arctic Basin and the Nordic Seas with a phase difference of 3/4, with the Nordic Seas leading the Arctic. The wavelet analysis of the sea ice data reveals that the quasi-decadal ASIO occurred actively since the 1970s following the trend starting in the 1960s (i.e., as sea-ice became thinner and thinner), as the atmosphere experienced quasi-decadal oscillations during the last century. The wavelet analysis also confirms the prediction of such out-of-phase feature between these two basins, which varied from 0.62 in 1960 to 0.25 in 1995. Furthermore, a coupled ice-ocean general circulation model (GCM) was used to simulate two scenarios, one without the greenhouse gas warming and the other having realistic atmospheric forcing along with the warming that leads to sea-ice reduction trend. The quasi-decadal ASIO is excited in the latter case compared to the no-warming case. The wavelet analyses of the simulated ice volume were also conducted to derive decadal ASIO and similar phase relationship between the Arctic Ocean and the Nordic Seas. An independent data source was used to confirm such decadal oscillation in the upper layer (or freshwater) thickness, which is consistent with the model simulation. A modified feedback loop for the sea-ice trend and ASIO was proposed based on the previous one by Mysak and Venegas and the ice/albedo and cloud/albedo feedabcks, which are responsible for the sea ice reduction trend.     

Mesoscale Variability in the Summer Arctic Boundary Layer

Observations from the summer Arctic Ocean Experiment 2001 (AOE-2001) are analysed with a focus on the interactions between mesoscale and boundary-layer dynamics. Wavelet analyses of surface-pressure variations show daylong periods with different characteristics, some featuring episodes of pronounced high-frequency surface-pressure variability, here hypothesized to be caused by trapped gravity waves. These episodes are accompanied by enhanced boundary-layer turbulence and an enhanced spectral gap, but with only minor influence on the surface stress. During these episodes, mesoscale phenomena were often encountered and usually identified as front-like features in the boundary layer, with a peak in drizzle followed by changing temperature. These phenomena resemble synoptic fronts, though they are generally shallow, shorter-lasting, have no signs of frontal clouds, and do not imply a change in air mass. Based on this analysis, we hypothesize that the root cause of the episodes with high-frequency surface-pressure variance are shallow, mesoscale fronts moving across the pack ice. They may be formed due to local-to-regional horizontal contrasts, for example, between air with different lifetimes over the Arctic or with perturbations in the cloud field causing differential cooling of the boundary layer. Thermal contrasts sharpen as the air is transported with the mean flow. The propagating mesoscale fronts excite gravity waves, which affect the boundary-layer turbulence and also seem to favour entrainment of free tropospheric air into the boundary layer.     

Arctic hazes in summer over Greenland and the North American Arctic. III: A contribution from the natural burning of carbonaceous materials and pyrites

Airborne measurements of the emissions from natural fires, fueled by pyrites and organic materials, at the Smoking Hills in the Northwest Territories, show that they are a regionally significant source of SO₂ (0.3 kg s^–1 or 10⁴ T yr^–1) and particles (0.3 kg s^–1). It appears likely that the Smoking Hills are a source for some of the dense, lower-level, haze layers that occur in the North American Arctic.     

北极臭氧损耗对初春东亚中高纬地区地面气温影响的观测分析

利用1948—2007年NCEP/NCAR月平均2m地面气温再分析资料、3月北极涛动（AO）指数和春季臭氧含量资料,采用合成分析方法分析了北极臭氧损耗对初春东亚中高纬地区地面气温的影响。结果表明,臭氧低（高）值年,3月东亚中高纬地区地面气温存在正（负）异常。4月的与3月类似,但气温异常的幅度减小,中心位置也有所变化。对...     

Arctic hazes in summer over Greenland and the North American Arctic: II. Nature and concentrations of accumulation-mode and giant particles

Airborne measurements made during August 1985 over Greenland and its environs show that both accumulation-mode (0.1 m D2.0 m) and giant (D2 m) particles were present in relatively high concentrations in arctic haze layers and that the accumulation-mode particles dominated light scattering. Particles with diameters (D) between 1 and 4 m consisted predominately of mixed materials, small and dense inclusions, and probably organic compounds containing sulfur. Many of the particles from 0.1 to 1 m in diameter were also of mixed composition, with sulfuric acid, ammonium sulfate and organics probably the dominant constituents.     

Synoptic Climatology of the Southern Beaufort Sea Troposphere with Comparisons to Surface Winds

Synoptic-scale atmospheric circulation patterns drive wind forcing of dynamic and thermodynamic processes in Arctic sea ice. Synoptic typing and compositing are common techniques used to identify a limited number of prevailing weather classifications that govern a region's climate. This work investigates atmospheric circulation patterns (surface to 250?hPa) for the southern Beaufort Sea and corresponding surface wind regimes within each synoptic type. Significant changes (p?<?0.05) in relative frequencies of a number of synoptic types were attributed to declining summer sea ice. Corresponding upper-level circulation anomalies show increasingly meridional atmospheric circulation. Synoptic Types 9 and 11 were identified as key October-November-December circulation features that represent deepening of the Aleutian low with concomitant strengthening of pressure gradients over the southern Beaufort Sea. Classification of coastal-based wind observations shows a shift towards increased easterly wind forcing. A case study of surface wind data from the CCGS Amundsen (2009–2011) provided a direct example of the surface wind regime within the marginal ice zone within each synoptic type during a period of reduced Arctic sea-ice cover.     

Western Arctic Cyclones and Equilibrium between the Atmospheric Boundary Layer and the Sea Surface

The data-collection campaign for the 2008 International Polar Year–Circumpolar Flaw Lead System Study saw the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Amundsen, a research icebreaker, overwinter in high-concentration unconsolidated sea ice in Amundsen Gulf. Environmental monitoring continued into the open-water season. During this period, the Amundsen registered five relatively deep mean sea-level pressure minima (less than 100?kPa). Three were selected for further analysis based on season and the nature of the underlying ocean or sea-ice surface: (1) a winter pressure minimum over unconsolidated sea ice, (2) a spring pressure minimum which likely contributed to the break-up of the sea-ice cover on Amundsen Gulf, and (3) a summer pressure minimum over open water. The characteristics of these pressure minima and the impact of their passage on the atmospheric boundary layer and on the sea-ice cover as they crossed Amundsen Gulf were examined. Several features were revealed by the analysis. (1) The winter and summer pressure minima were migratory cyclones accompanied by Arctic frontal waves with characteristics very similar to the polar frontal waves associated with the migratory cyclones found at more southerly latitudes, whereas the spring pressure minimum was attributed to an Arctic frontal trough of low pressure with the cyclonic centre remaining south of the Gulf. (2) The passage of the frontal-wave cyclone in winter and the frontal trough of low pressure in spring disrupted the equilibrium that had been established during more settled periods between the atmospheric boundary layer and the mosaic surface (leads, polynyas, and sea ice); however, equilibrium was quickly re-established. (3) In summer, the thermal structure of the lower atmospheric boundary layer persisted through the passage of the frontal-wave cyclone over the open-water surface. (4) The passage of the frontal-wave cyclone in winter and the frontal trough of low pressure in spring modified the mesoscale sea-icescape.     

The Summer Arctic Boundary Layer during the Arctic Ocean Experiment 2001 (AOE-2001)

Boundary-layer measurements made from the Swedish icebreaker Oden during the Arctic Ocean Experiment 2001 (AOE-2001) are analysed. They refer mainly to ice drift in the central Arctic during the period 2–21 August 2001. On board Oden a remote sensing array with a wind profiler, cloud radar and a scanning microwave radiometer, and a regular weather station operated continuously; soundings were also released during research stations. Turbulence and profile measurements on an 18-m mast were deployed on the ice, along with two sodar systems, a microbarograph array and a tethered sounding system. Surface flux and meteorological stations were also deployed on nearby ice floes. There is a clear diurnal cycle in radiation and also in wind speed, cloud base and visibility. It is absent in temperature and humidity, probably due to the very strong control by melting/ freezing ice and snow. In the advection of warm air, latent heat of melting maintains the surface temperature at 0 °C, while with a negative energy balance the latent heat of freezing of the salty ocean water acts to maintain the surface temperature > −2 °C. The constant presence of water at the surface maintains a relative humidity close to 100%, and this is also often facilitated by an increasing specific humidity through the capping inversion, making entrainment a moisture source. This ensures cloudy conditions, with low cloud and fog prevailing most of the time. Intrusions of warm and moist air from beyond the ice edge are frequent, but the local Arctic boundary layer remains at a relatively constant temperature, and is shallow and well mixed with strong capping inversions. Power spectra of surface-layer wind speed sometimes show large variance at low frequency. A scanning radiometer provides a monitoring of the vertical thermal structure with a spatial and temporal resolution not seen before in the Arctic. There are often two inversions, an elevated main inversion and a weak surface inversion, and occasionally additional inversions occur. Enhanced entrainment across the main inversion appears to occur during frontal passages. Variance of the scanning radiometer temperatures occurs in large pulses rather than varying smoothly, and the height to the maximum variance appears to be a reasonable proxy for the boundary-layer depth.     

300 hPa北极涡年际及年代际变化特征的研究

利用NCEP/NCAR 1949—2002年月平均再分析高度场资料,通过线性倾向估计、二项式系数加权平均、Morlet小波分析等诊断方法,系统地讨论了300 hPa北半球极涡面积、强度及中心位置的年际和年代际变化特征,结果表明:(1)年平均北极涡的面积在20世纪70年代中期之前在总的上升趋势中有几次较小的波动,之后在总体下降趋势中有几次较大的起伏;Ⅰ、Ⅱ区的线性变化趋势非常小,Ⅳ区最大,夏季的年际变化相对明显一些,秋季变化最弱,各季节均有线性收缩趋势,冬季幅度最大,秋季最小。(2)年平均极涡强度的年际、年代际变化特征与极涡面积有相似之处,但不同年份存在显著差异;各分区的强度变化与北半球类似(特别是Ⅰ区);夏季的年际变化幅度最大,春、夏季年代际变化的特征明显,秋季最弱。(3)北极涡中心位置通常并不在北极点,各分区极涡总面积所占的百分比有明显差异,且有月际变化,这些差异与海陆热力差异造成的环流的差异密切相关;极涡的主要位置有一定的年际、年代际变化特征;极涡中心位置主要偏向亚洲大陆及太平洋一侧。     

北极地区极昼气候突变现象及转型成因研究

基于1979-2018年的NCEP-DOE Reanalysis Ⅱ逐日再分析数据,采用模糊C均值聚类算法(Fuzzy C-Means Algorithm,FCMA)将北极地区极昼期间的气候分为寒干型、半寒干型、半暖湿型及暖湿型4种.在夏季北极海冰快速减少的气候背景下,这4种气候型控制的区域也相应发生了明显变化.其中,...     

北极涛动和南极涛动的年变化特征

北极涛动(Arctic Oscillation,简称AO)和南极涛动(Antarctic Oscillation,简称AAO)分别用于描述北半球和南半球热带外气候变率的主要模态,它们分别是北半球和南半球中纬度和高纬度之间气压变化的跷跷板结构.作者利用1958年1月～1999年12月的NCEP/NCAR全球再分析月平均资料、北极涛动指数IAO和南极涛动指数IAAO来研究AO和AAO的年变化特征以及AO和AAO与纬向平均的月平均各要素场的相关系数随纬度和月份的变化规律.     

Aerosol black carbon measurements in the Arctic haze during AGASP-II

During the second Arctic Gas and Aerosol Sampling Program conducted in April 1986, we performed measurements of the optically absorbing carbonaceous component of the ambient aerosol from the NOAA WP-3D aircraft operating between sea level and 10 km altitude. We collected the aerosol of filters that were exposed for several hours; we also operated the aethalometer to measure the concentration of aerosol black carbon in real time. The filter analyses represent averages over the altitude range and time span during which the filter was collecting. The real-time results were sorted by altitude to calculate vertical profiles of black carbon concentration. Values typically ranged from 300 to 500 ng m^–3 at lower altitudes, decreasing gradually to 25 to 100 ng m^–3 at 8–10 km. Strong stratification at lower altitudes was frequently observed. The magnitude of these concentrations suggests that the sources are distant regions of considerable fuel consumption. The presence of this material in the tropospheric column and its probable deposition to the high-albedo surface may result in perturbations of the solar radiation balance. The concentrations measured at the highest altitudes may mean that particulate carbon and accompanying emissions for which it is a tracer are mixing into the stratosphere.     

Arctic hazes in summer over Greenland and the North American Arctic. I: Incidence and origins

Airborne observations during August 1985 over Greenland and the North American Arctic revealed that dense, discrete haze layers were common above 850 mb. No such hazes were found near the surface in areas remote from local sources of particles. The haze layers aloft were characterized by large light-scattering coefficients due to dry particles (maximum value 1.24 × 10^–4m^–1) and relatively high total particle concentrations (maximum value 3100 cm^–3). Sulfate was the dominant ionic component of the aerosol (0.06 – 1.9 g m^–3); carbon soot was also present. Evidence for relatively fresh aerosols, accompanied by NO₂ and O₃ depletion, was found near, but not within, the haze layers. The hazes probably derived from anthropogenic sources and/or biomass burning at midlatitudes.It is hypothesized that the scavenging of particles by stratus clouds plays an important role in reducing the frequency and intensity of hazes at the surface in the Arctic in summer. Since the detection of haze layers aloft through measurements of column-integrated parameters from the surface (e.g., by lidar) cannot be carried out reliably when clouds are present, such measurements have likely underestimated the occurrence of haze layers in the Arctic, particularly in summer.     

近42年来我国北方冬半年寒潮频次的第一模态及其与北极涛动的相关分析

This study examined wintertime （November-April） cold wave frequency （CWF） in northern China during the last 42 years and its association with Arctic Oscillation （AO） through analysis of daily mean surface temperature from 280 stations across northern China and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts （ECMWF） 40-Year Re-analysis ERA-40 data. The leading empirical orthogonal function EOF mode of wintertime CWF （CWF-EOF1） indicates an identical signal over most northern China, with the characteristic trend of linear decline for the leading principal component （CWF-PC1）. After the linear trend is removed, remarkable inter-annual variability is found to be the dominant feature of the CWF-PC1. The regression map for sea level pressure based on CWF-PC1 corresponds to the negative phase of AO. Correlation analysis further proves that CWF-PC1 has a significant negative correlation with AO at the inter-annual time scale. The relationship between AO and global surface air temperature is also investigated in order to understand its association with cold air activity over East Asia, and it is suggested that the anomalies of atmospheric circulation in Siberia may serve as a bridge for interaction between AO and CWF in northern China during wintertime.     

The Nature and Predictability of the East Asian Extreme Cold Events of 2020/21

Three extreme cold events invaded China during the early winter period between December 2020 to mid-January 2021 and caused drastic temperature drops,setting new low-temperature records at many stations during 6?8 January 2021.These cold events occurred under background conditions of low Arctic sea ice extent and a La Ni?a event.This is somewhat expected since the coupled effect of large Arctic sea ice loss in autumn and sea surface temperature cooling in the tropical Pacific usually favors cold event occurrences in Eurasia.Further diagnosis reveals that the first cold event is related to the southward movement of the polar vortex and the second one is related to a continent-wide ridge,while both the southward polar vortex and the Asian blocking are crucial for the third event.Here,we evaluate the forecast skill for these three events utilizing the operational forecasts from the ECMWF model.We find that the third event had the highest predictability since it achieves the best skill in forecasting the East Asian cooling among the three events.Therefore,the predictability of these cold events,as well as their relationships with the atmospheric initial conditions,Arctic sea ice,and La Ni?a deserve further investigation.     

Arctic sea ice and Eurasian climate: A review

The Arctic plays a fundamental role in the climate system and has shown significant climate change in recent decades,including the Arctic warming and decline of Arctic sea-ice extent and thickness. In contrast to the Arctic warming and reduction of Arctic sea ice, Europe, East Asia and North America have experienced anomalously cold conditions, with record snowfall during recent years. In this paper, we review current understanding of the sea-ice impacts on the Eurasian climate.Paleo, observational and modelling studies are covered to summarize several major themes, including: the variability of Arctic sea ice and its controls; the likely causes and apparent impacts of the Arctic sea-ice decline during the satellite era,as well as past and projected future impacts and trends; the links and feedback mechanisms between the Arctic sea ice and the Arctic Oscillation/North Atlantic Oscillation, the recent Eurasian cooling, winter atmospheric circulation, summer precipitation in East Asia, spring snowfall over Eurasia, East Asian winter monsoon, and midlatitude extreme weather; and the remote climate response(e.g., atmospheric circulation, air temperature) to changes in Arctic sea ice. We conclude with a brief summary and suggestions for future research.     

Model analysis of the measured concentration of organic gases in the Norwegian Arctic

A 2-D meridional model for the chemistry and transport in the troposphere is used to study the seasonal variation of the concentration of organic gases like C₂H₂, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, C₆H₆, C₇H₈. CHCl₃ and C₂Cl₄ at high latitudes. The anthropogenic sources for these species were estimated, and the temporal and latitudinal distribution of OH and O₃ was calculated using a complex photochemical reaction system. There is fair agreement between the calculated annual variation and the measured concentrations for C₂H₂, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, C₇H₈ and C₂Cl₄ at Spitsbergen during July 1982 and March/April 1983, with a distinct late winter maximum and summer minimum. For CHCl₃, the direct anthropogenic source is minor compared to indirect anthropogenic or natural sources. For benzene, emission in car exhaust is important, but other anthropogenic sources are required for the calculations to agree with the measurements. Measured C₂H₄ and C₃H₆ concentrations are much higher than the calculated ones based on anthropogenic emissions, and show opposite seasonal trends. This indicates biogenic sources for these compounds.A buildup of PAN (300 pptv) is calculated at high latitudes during winter. This makes it the dominant source for NO_x as the temperature increases in the spring. NO_x is found to be a limiting factor for O₃ production at high latitudes during spring.     

冬季北极涛动异常与新疆气温变化的关系

基于新疆96个气象站1961—2014年月平均气温、北极涛动指数和NCEP/NCAR再分析环流资料,分析了冬季北极涛动异常与新疆同期气温变化的关系及其影响。结果表明:冬季北极涛动指数与新疆冬季平均气温相关较好,42.7%的测站冬季气温与北极涛动指数的相关系数通过0.05显著性水平检验,主要集中在新疆北部地区。在冬季北极涛动指数偏强的7 a,新疆冬季气温偏高、偏低的概率分别为93.0%与6.3%;在冬季北极涛动指数异常偏低的14 a,冬季气温偏高、偏低的概率分别为41.5%和56.1%,偏低概率高于偏高概率。当冬季北极涛动指数偏强时,850 h Pa新疆及其北部广大区域盛行异常偏南风,不利于冷空气南下,新疆冬季气温高;反之,盛行异常偏北风,新疆冬季气温偏低。