两类El Ni?o事件盛期南大洋海冰异常的对比分析

基于1979～2017年数据,利用回归方法和线性模式试验,分析了两类El Ni?o事件（东部型EP和中部型CP）盛期（12月至2月）南大洋海冰异常的差异及其可能机制。结果表明,两类事件期间尽管海冰异常定性上类似,但强度和位置存在明显差异:在罗斯海和阿蒙森海,两类事件期间海冰均偏少,但 EP期间海冰减少范围更大,振幅更强;在威德尔海,两类事件期间海冰均偏多,但EP期间增多更明显,而且位置相对CP期间偏西偏北。造成这种差异的主要因素是两类事件期间海温异常强度的不同:EP期间对应的海温偏东偏强,其激发的类太平洋—南美型（PSA）模态在南极边缘海的异常高压中心强度更大、范围更广,使得罗斯海区域为东北风异常控制,有利海冰向高纬输送,海冰范围进而减少;而威德尔海区域则是异常偏南风控制,使得海冰向北输送,有利于威德尔海南部海冰范围减少,北部海冰范围增大。相比之下,CP事件期间,赤道中东太平洋的暖海温异常偏于中太平洋且强度弱,其激发的类PSA在南极边缘的异常高压偏弱,使得动力作用引起阿蒙森海的海冰减少和威德尔海海冰增加偏弱。进一步的分析表明,CP事件期间威德尔海海冰增多还与该区域更早时间（11月份）的海冰增多,及随后海冰—太阳反照率的正反馈效应有关。本研究结果显示两类事件期间海冰异常的强度和位置的差异,与两类事件期间赤道中东太平洋SSTA强度和位置的差异,二者有很好的对应关系,相比前人的合成分析结果（CP期间海冰异常强于EP期间）,物理上更为合理。     

一个冰气相互作用数值模拟结果的可能统计解释

基于一个全球海-冰-气耦合模式的数值模拟结果,选取冬季格陵兰海海表面温度(SST)、海冰密集度、海表面感热通量等物理量以及3个相关区域海平面气压分别作经验正交函数展开,取第一模时间系数作相关分析。结果表明,上一年海冰密集度偏大(小)与来年的SST偏低(高)相联系,但二者同期相关性最大。当海气热通量交换变化超前一年时,其与SST相关性最大。模式最低层大气温度与海洋表面热通量之间的同时相关性最大,冬季模式最低层气温偏高(低)与海洋表面失去的感热、潜热通量偏少(多)相联系。气温、比湿都和冰岛低压区及格陵兰海的海平面气压相关性最强,冰岛低压气压偏低(高)与模式最低层气温和比湿偏高(低)相联系。所以,在海-冰-气年际尺度的相互作用中,主要关系是大气环流调整造成大气中云量和低层气温、湿度变化,进而影响海气界面上的通量交换,造成SST的变化。SST变化决定着海冰范围及海冰密集度的变化,但海冰变化时通过相变潜热的释放或吸收反过来对SST变化有较明显影响。     

南极海冰涛动对北半球夏季大气环流的影响

南极海冰首要模态呈现偶极子型异常,正负异常中心分别位于别林斯高晋海/阿蒙森海和威德尔海。过去研究表明冬春季节南极海冰涛动异常对后期南极涛动（Antarctic Oscillation,AAO）型大气环流有显著影响,而AAO可以通过经向遥相关等机制影响北半球大气环流和东亚气候。本文中我们利用观测分析发现南极海冰涛动从5～7月（May–July,MJJ）到8～10月（August–October, ASO）有很好的持续性,并进一步分析其对北半球夏季大气环流的可能影响及其物理过程。结果表明,MJJ南极海冰涛动首先通过冰气相互作用在南半球激发持续性的AAO型大气环流异常,使得南半球中纬度和极地及热带之间的气压梯度加大,在MJJ至JAS,纬向平均纬向风呈现显著的正负相间的从南极到北极的经向遥相关型分布。对流层中层位势高度场上,在澳大利亚北部到海洋性大陆区域,出现显著的负异常,在东亚沿岸从低纬到高纬呈现南北走向的“? + ?”太平洋—日本（Pacific–Japan,PJ）遥相关波列,其对应赤道中部太平洋及赤道印度洋存在显著的降水和海温负异常,西北太平洋至我国东部沿海地区存在显著降水正异常和温度负异常;低纬度北美洲到大西洋一带存在的负位势高度异常和北大西洋附近存在的正位势高度异常中心,构成一个类似于西大西洋型遥相关（Western Atlantic,WA）的结构,对应赤道南大西洋降水增加和南撒哈拉地区降水减少。从物理过程来看,南极海冰涛动首先通过局地效应影响Ferrel环流,进而通过经圈环流调整使得海洋性大陆区域和热带大西洋上方的Hadley环流上升支得到增强,海洋性大陆区域特别是菲律宾附近的热带对流活动偏强,激发类似于负位相的PJ波列,影响东亚北太平洋地区的大气环流,而热带大西洋对流增强和北传特征,则通过激发WA遥相关影响大西洋和欧洲地区的大气环流。以上两种通道将持续性MJJ至ASO南极海冰涛动强迫的大气环流信号从南半球中高纬度经热带地区传递到北半球中高纬地区,从而对热带和北半球夏季大气环流产生显著影响。     

Atmospheric Precursors of and Response to Anomalous Arctic Sea Ice in CMIP5 Models

This study examines pre-industrial control simulations from CMIP5 climate models in an effort to better understand the complex relationships between Arctic sea ice and the stratosphere, and between Arctic sea ice and cold winter temperatures over Eurasia. We present normalized regressions of Arctic sea-ice area against several atmospheric variables at extended lead and lag times. Statistically significant regressions are found at leads and lags, suggesting both atmospheric precursors of, and responses to, low sea ice; but generally, the regressions are stronger when the atmosphere leads sea ice, including a weaker polar stratospheric vortex indicated by positive polar cap height anomalies. Significant positive midlatitude eddy heat flux anomalies are also found to precede low sea ice. We argue that low sea ice and raised polar cap height are both a response to this enhanced midlatitude eddy heat flux. The so-called "warm Arctic, cold continents" anomaly pattern is present one to two months before low sea ice, but is absent in the months following low sea ice, suggesting that the Eurasian cooling and low sea ice are driven by similar processes. Lastly, our results suggest a dependence on the geographic region of low sea ice, with low Barents–Kara Sea ice correlated with a weakened polar stratospheric vortex, whilst low Sea of Okhotsk ice is correlated with a strengthened polar vortex. Overall, the results support a notion that the sea ice, polar stratospheric vortex and Eurasian surface temperatures collectively respond to large-scale changes in tropospheric circulation.     

Climate fluctuations of the Weddell Sea and its surroundings in a transient climate change scenario

The response of the Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula to anthropogenic forcing simulated by a global climate model is analyzed. The model, despite its low resolution, is able to capture several aspects of the observed regional pattern of climate change. A strong warming and depletion of the sea ice cover in the western Weddell Sea contrasts with a slight cooling and a sea-ice extension in the eastern Weddell Sea. This simulated long-term climate change is modulated by interdecadal variability but also affected by some abrupt regional changes in the oceanic mixed layer depth. Between 1960 and 2030 a reorganization of the deep convection activity in the Weddell Sea sustains the opposition between the eastern and western Weddell Sea. The deep convection collapses in the western Weddell Sea in the 2030s. The sea ice retreat trend is then followed by an increase of the sea ice cover in the western Weddell Sea. In the eastern Weddell Sea another abrupt collapse of the deep convection activity occurs around 2080. This event is followed by a rapid cooling and sea ice extension during the next 20 years. Most of the surface changes are associated with large-scale atmospheric circulation changes that project on the dominant mode of natural variability but also with oceanic convection and circulation changes.     

冬季北半球大气对秋冬季巴伦支海海冰异常的敏感性研究

基于ERA-Interim再分析资料,借助大气模式CAM4,分析了北半球冬季不同月份的平均大气对巴伦支海不同振幅及不同季节海冰扰动的敏感性,并考察了中高纬度典型大气模态的分布变化情况.结果表明,冬季巴伦支海海冰的减少,会导致湍流热通量异常向上、局地异常变暖及水汽含量的异常升高,且相关异常的强度和范围随着海冰减少幅度的减...     

Generation and atmospheric heat exchange of coastal polynyas in the Weddell Sea

The forcing mechanisms for Antarctic coastal polynyas and the thermodynamic effects of existing polynyas are studied by means of an air-sea-ice interaction experiment in the Weddell Sea in October and November 1986.Coastal polynyas develop in close relationship to the ice motion and form most rapidly with offshore ice motion. Narrow polynyas occur frequently on the lee side of headlands and with strong curvature of the coastline. From the momentum balance of drifting sea ice, a forcing diagram is constructed, which relates ice motion to the surface-layer wind vector v _z and to the geostrophic ocean current vector c _g . In agreement with the data, wind forcing dominates when the wind speed at a height of 3 m exceeds the geostrophic current velocity by a factor of at least 33. This condition within the ocean regime of the Antarctic coastal current usually is fulfilled for wind speeds above 5 m/s at a height of 3 m.Based on a nonlinear parameter estimation technique, optimum parameters for free ice drift are calculated. Including a drift dependent geostrophic current in the ice/water drag yields a maximum of explained variance (91%) of ice velocity.The turbulent heat exchange between sea ice and polynya surfaces is derived from surface-layer wind and temperature data, from temperature changes of the air mass along its trajectory and from an application of the resistance laws for the atmospheric PBL. The turbulent heat flux averaged over all randomly distributed observations in coastal polynyas is 143 W/m². This value is significantly different over pack ice and shelf ice surfaces, where downward fluxes prevail. The large variances of turbulent fluxes can be explained by variable wind speeds and air temperatures. The heat fluxes are also affected by cloud feedback processes and vary in time due to the formation of new ice at the polynya surface.Maximum turbulent fluxes of more than 400 W/m² result from strong winds and low air temperatures. The heat exchange is similarly intense in a narrow zone close to the ice front, when under weak wind conditions, a local circulation develops and cold air associated with strong surface inversions over the shelf ice is heated above the open water.     

Interannual variability of sea‐ice cover in Hudson bay,Baffin bay and the Labrador sea

Abstract

The spatial and temporal relationships between subarctic Canadian sea‐ice cover and atmospheric forcing are investigated by analysing sea‐ice concentration, sea‐level pressure and surface air temperature data from 1953 to 1988. The sea‐ice anomalies in Hudson Bay, Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea are found to be related to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Southern Oscillation (SO). Through a spatial Student's i‐test and a Monte Carlo simulation, it is found that sea‐ice cover in both Hudson Bay and the Baffin Bay‐Labrador Sea region responds to a Low/Wet episode of the SO (defined as the period when the SO index becomes negative) mainly in summer. In this case, the sea‐ice cover has a large positive anomaly that starts in summer and continues through to autumn. The ice anomaly is attributed to the negative anomalies in the regional surface air temperature record during the summer and autumn when the Low/Wet episode is developing. During strong winter westerly wind events of the NAO, the Baffin Bay‐Labrador Sea ice cover in winter and spring has a positive anomaly due to the associated negative anomaly in surface air temperature. During the years in which strong westerly NAO and Low/Wet SO events occur simultaneously (as in 1972/73 and 1982/83), the sea ice is found to have large positive anomalies in the study region; in particular, such anomalies occurred for a major portion of one of the two years. A spectral analysis shows that sea‐ice fluctuations in the Baffin Bay‐Labrador Sea region respond to the SO and surface air temperature at about 1.7‐, 5‐ and 10‐year periods. In addition, a noticeable sea‐ice change was found (i.e. more polynyas occurred) around the time of the so‐called “climate jump” during the early 1960s. Data on ice thickness and on ice‐melt dates from Hudson Bay are also used to verify some of the above findings.     

Seasonal climate information preserved in West Antarctic ice core water isotopes: relationships to temperature, large-scale circulation, and sea ice

As part of the United States’ contribution to the International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition (ITASE), a network of precisely dated and highly resolved ice cores was retrieved from West Antarctica. The ITASE dataset provides a unique record of spatial and temporal variations of stable water isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δD) across West Antarctica. We demonstrate that, after accounting for water vapor diffusion, seasonal information can be successfully extracted from the ITASE cores. We use meteorological reanalysis, weather station, and sea ice data to assess the role of temperature, sea ice, and the state of the large-scale atmospheric circulation in controlling seasonal average water isotope variations in West Antarctica. The strongest relationships for all variables are found in the cores on and west of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide and during austral fall. During this season positive isotope anomalies in the westernmost ITASE cores are strongly related to a positive pressure anomaly over West Antarctica, low sea ice concentrations in the Ross and Amundsen Seas, and above normal temperatures. Analyses suggest that this seasonally distinct climate signal is due to the pronounced meridional oriented circulation and its linkage to enhanced sea ice variations in the adjacent Southern Ocean during fall, both of which also influence local to regional temperatures.     

Simulation of the atmospheric circulation in the Weddell Sea region using the limited-area model REMO

Summary ?To analyse the applicability of a limited-area atmosphere model to the Southern Ocean, a one-year simulation for 1985 is performed using the REgional MOdel REMO at 55-km horizontal grid-spacing implemented for the Antarctic regions of the Weddell, Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas. To evaluate the performance of REMO, a comparison of model results to observations and to reanalysis/analysis data sets is carried out. REMO is initialized and driven at the lateral and lower boundaries by data of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis (ERA15). Overall, REMO is an appropriate tool for further climate studies in Antarctic regions. It reproduces reasonably well basic spatial patterns and the seasonal cycle of the atmospheric circulation. However, the simulated mean sea level pressure (MSLP) is predominantly lower than the MSLP provided by observations and by ERA. Considerable temperature differences in the lower troposphere over sea ice in winter cause discrepancies between the REMO and ERA pressure fields in the mid-troposphere too. The precipitation rate P of the REMO simulation agrees qualitatively well with main features of the observed climatological spatial distribution described in literature. The seasonal cycle of P in the inner Weddell Sea reflects the Antarctic semi-annual oscillation. Concerning the forcing fields, the ERA sea ice surface temperatures in winter are generally higher than satellite derived surface temperatures. Although the differences are 10 to 15 K in the southern Weddell Sea, this deficiency of the ERA data hardly influences the mean large-scale circulation. Received October 10, 2001; revised April 22, 2002; accepted May 12, 2002     

Sea‐ice interaction and the stability of the thermohaline circulation

Abstract

The role of sea‐ice in affecting the stability and long‐term variability of the oceanic thermohaline circulation (THC) is studied in this paper. The emphasis is placed on studying how sea‐ice might affect the stability and the long‐term variability of the THC through modulations of the surface heat and freshwater fluxes. A simple box model is analyzed to elucidate qualitatively the distinct physical meanings of these two processes. The analytical solution of this simple model indicates that, for the long timescales considered here, the thermal insulation stabilizes the THC while the freshwater feedback increases the effective inertia of the coupled ice‐ocean system. Sea‐ice insulation lessens the negative feedback between heat flux and the SST, and therefore, allows the SST to play a greater role in counteracting changes of the THC and high latitude salinity field. The freshwater feedback effectively links the surface heat flux to a freshwater reservoir, and thus, increases the effective inertia of the coupled ocean‐ice system. A two‐dimensional ocean model coupled with a thermodynamic sea‐ice model is used to estimate quantitatively the magnitudes of these two feedbacks. The numerical experiments involve the model's responses both to initial anomalies and to changes of forcing fields. For the free response cases (model responses to initial anomalies without changing the forcing fields), the model shows that the decay rate of an initial anomaly is greater when sea‐ice is included. For small perturbations the thermal insulation effect dominates over the freshwater feedback. The latter becomes increasingly more important for larger perturbations. In response to a change of external forcing, the presence of sea‐ice reduces the magnitude and the pace of the model's response. The numerical results are qualitatively consistent with the analytical solution of the box model.     

Variability of Fram Strait sea ice export: causes, impacts and feedbacks in a coupled climate model

Analyses of a 500-year control integration of the global coupled atmosphere–sea ice–ocean model ECHAM5.0/MPI-OM show a high variability in the ice export through Fram Strait on interannual to decadal timescales. This variability is mainly determined by variations in the sea level pressure gradient across Fram Strait and thus geostrophic wind stress. Ice thickness anomalies, formed at the Siberian coast and in the Chukchi Sea, propagate across the Arctic to Fram Strait and contribute to the variability of the ice export on a timescale of about 9 years. Large anomalies of the ice export through Fram Strait cause fresh water signals, which reach the Labrador Sea after 1–2 years and lead to significant changes in the deep convection. The associated anomalies in ice cover and ocean heat release have a significant impact on air temperature in the Labrador Sea and on the large-scale atmospheric circulation. This affects the sea ice transport and distribution in the Arctic again. Sensitivity studies, simulating the effect of large ice exports through Fram Strait, show that the isolated effect of a prescribed ice/fresh water anomaly is very important for the climate variability in the Labrador Sea. Thus, the ice export through Fram Strait can be used for predictability of Labrador Sea climate up to 2 years in advance.     

Tracing freshwater anomalies through the air‐land‐ocean system: A case study from the Mackenzie river basin and the Beaufort Gyre

Abstract

Mackenzie River discharge was at a record low in water year (WY) 1995 (October 1994 to September 1995), was near average in WY 1996, and was at a record high in WY 1997. The record high discharge in WY 1997, with above average flow each month, was followed by a record high flow in May 1998, then a sharp decline. Through diagnosing these changing flows and their expression in the Beaufort Sea via synthesis of observations and model output, this study provides insight into the nature of the Arctic's freshwater system. The low discharge in WY 1995 manifests negative anomalies in P‐E and precipitation, recycled summer precipitation, and dry surface conditions immediately prior to the water year. The complex hydrograph for WY 1996 reflects a combination of spring soil moisture recharge, buffering by rising lake levels, positive P‐E anomalies in summer, and a massive release of water held in storage by Bennett Dam. The record high discharge in WY 1997 manifests the dual effects of reduced buffering by lakes and positive P‐E anomalies for most of the year. With reduced buffering, only modest P‐E the following spring led to a record discharge in May 1998. As simulated with a coupled ice‐ocean model, the record low discharge in WY 1995 contributed to a negative freshwater anomaly on the Mackenzie shelf lasting throughout the winter of 1995/96. High discharge from July–October 1996 contributed approximately 20% to a positive freshwater anomaly forming in the Beaufort Sea in the autumn of that year. The remainder was associated with reduced autumn/winter ice growth, strong ice melt the previous summer, and positive P‐E anomalies over the ocean itself. Starting in autumn 1997 and throughout 1998, the upper ocean became more saline owing to sea‐ice growth.     

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.     

渤海海冰数值模式的研究进展

根据渤海海冰冰情,从热力和动力两个方面综述了渤海海冰数值模式的研究进展。从热力参数方案和气候特点上,展望新一代渤海中小尺度短期海冰热力模式;从海冰动力模式中3种常用数值方法的主要特点和实际应用情况上,论述SPH(Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics)方法在渤海海冰短期预报的发展前景。在此基础上,结合海洋气象的发展,讨论海冰短期预报的关键技术。将海冰数值预报模式与传统的中长期海冰统计预报有机地结合起来将是渤海海冰模式未来的发展方向。     

有无El Ni?o情况下印度洋偶极子演变特征及机理研究

基于NCEP、SODA等再分析资料,采用合成分析和2.5层简化海洋模型数值模拟等方法,分析了El Ni?o和正印度洋偶极子(IOD)事件不同配置情形下印度洋海温异常的演变特征,并重点探讨了联合IOD和独立IOD事件中,关键海区海温异常的发展演变及其可能机制。对于联合IOD事件,初期马里沿岸的增暖可能对其发生起主要的激发作用;而对于独立IOD事件的发生,则可能是赤道东南印度洋的降温起主导作用。不同类型IOD事件中,热带印度洋海表温度异常(SSTA)和海面高度异常(SSHA)的演变特征有明显差别,孟加拉湾上空降水异常所起的作用也不一样,印度洋不同海区混合层温度异常的演变机制也有显著不同。基于2.5层简化海洋模式结果的分析表明,各个海区的热力、动力过程在不同IOD事件有着不同的作用。例如在索马里沿岸海区:对于联合IOD事件,西印度洋赤道东风异常和索马里沿岸东北风异常,有利于该海区出现纬向平流热输送和海表热通量正异常,从而增暖。而对于独立IOD事件,阿拉伯海上空的强西南风异常,加强了索马里沿岸底层冷水的上翻和海表的热通量损失,导致前期纬向平流和夹卷混合的负异常以及后期海表热通量的负异常,使得该海区变冷。      

On the relationship between arctic sea‐ice anomalies and fluctuations in Northern Canadian air temperature and river discharge

Abstract

A lagged cross‐correlation analysis of climatic data from the period 1953–1984 was carried out for three regions of Northern Canada (Beaufort Sea, Hudson Bay, Baffin Bay/Labrador Sea) to determine the relationships between sea‐ice anomalies and surface air temperature and river discharge anomalies. Significant negative correlations at the 95% level were found between sea‐ice and temperature anomalies. A significant correlation at the 95% level was found between sea‐ice and river discharge anomalies in only one of two subregions studied.     

Atmospheric influence on Arctic marginal ice zone position and width in the Atlantic sector, February–April 1979–2010

Arctic marginal ice zone (MIZ) widths in the Atlantic sector were measured during the months of maximum sea ice extent (February–April) for years 1979–2010 using a novel method based on objective curves through idealized sea ice concentration fields that satisfied Laplace’s equation. Over the record, the Labrador Sea MIZ (MIZ_L) had an average width of 122 km and narrowed by 28 % while moving 254 km poleward, the Greenland Sea MIZ (MIZ_G) had an average width of 98 km and narrowed by 43 % while moving 158 km west toward the Greenland coast, and the Barents Sea MIZ (MIZ_B) had an average width of 136 km and moved 259 km east toward the Eurasian coast without a trend in width. Trends in MIZ position and width were consistent with a warming Arctic and decreasing sea ice concentrations over the record. Beyond the trends, NAO-like atmospheric patterns influenced interannual variability in MIZ position and width: MIZ_L widened and moved southeast under anomalously strong northerly flow conducive to advection of sea ice into the Labrador Sea, MIZ_G widened and moved northeast under anomalously weak northerly flow conducive to diminishing the westward component of sea ice drift, and MIZ_B widened and moved poleward at the expense of pack ice under anomalously strong southwesterly flow conducive to enhancing oceanic heat flux into the Barents Sea. In addition, meridional flow anomalies associated with the NAO per se moved MIZ_B east and west by modulating sea ice concentration over the Barents Sea.     

Sources of uncertainty in projections of twenty-first century westerly wind changes over the Amundsen Sea,West Antarctica,in CMIP5 climate models

The influence of changes in winds over the Amundsen Sea has been shown to be a potentially key mechanism in explaining rapid loss of ice from major glaciers in West Antarctica, which is having a significant impact on global sea level. Here, Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) climate model data are used to assess twenty-first century projections in westerly winds over the Amundsen Sea (U _AS ). The importance of model uncertainty and internal climate variability in RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenario projections are quantified and potential sources of model uncertainty are considered. For the decade 2090–2099 the CMIP5 models show an ensemble mean twenty-first century response in annual mean U _AS of 0.3 and 0.7 m s^?1 following the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios respectively. However, as a consequence of large internal climate variability over the Amundsen Sea, it takes until around 2030 (2065) for the RCP8.5 response to exceed one (two) standard deviation(s) of decadal internal variability. In all scenarios and seasons the model uncertainty is large. However the present-day climatological zonal wind bias over the whole South Pacific, which is important for tropical teleconnections, is strongly related to inter-model differences in projected change in U _AS (more skilful models show larger U _AS increases). This relationship is significant in winter (r = ?0.56) and spring (r = ?0.65), when the influence of the tropics on the Amundsen Sea region is known to be important. Horizontal grid spacing and present day sea ice extent are not significant sources of inter-model spread.     

Critical mechanisms for the formation of extreme arctic sea-ice extent in the summers of 2007 and 1996

Along with significant changes in the Arctic climate system, the largest year-to-year variation in sea-ice extent (SIE) has occurred in the Laptev, East Siberian, and Chukchi seas (defined here as the area of focus, AOF), among which the two highly contrasting extreme events were observed in the summers of 2007 and 1996 during the period 1979–2012. Although most efforts have been devoted to understanding the 2007 low, a contrasting high September SIE in 1996 might share some related but opposing forcing mechanisms. In this study, we investigate the mechanisms for the formation of these two extremes and quantitatively estimate the cloud-radiation-water vapor feedback to the sea-ice-concentration (SIC) variation utilizing satellite-observed sea-ice products and the NASA MERRA reanalysis. The low SIE in 2007 was associated with a persistent anticyclone over the Beaufort Sea coupled with low pressure over Eurasia, which induced anomalous southerly winds. Ample warm and moist air from the North Pacific was transported to the AOF and resulted in positive anomalies of cloud fraction (CF), precipitable water vapor (PWV), surface LWnet (down-up), total surface energy and temperature. In contrast, the high SIE event in 1996 was associated with a persistent low pressure over the central Arctic coupled with high pressure along the Eastern Arctic coasts, which generated anomalous northerly winds and resulted in negative anomalies of above mentioned atmospheric parameters. In addition to their immediate impacts on sea ice reduction, CF, PWV and radiation can interplay to lead to a positive feedback loop among them, which plays a critical role in reinforcing sea ice to a great low value in 2007. During the summer of 2007, the minimum SIC is 31 % below the climatic mean, while the maximum CF, LWnet and PWV can be up to 15 %, 20 Wm^?2, and 4 kg m^?3 above. The high anti-correlations (?0.79, ?0.61, ?0.61) between the SIC and CF, PWV, and LWnet indicate that CF, PWV and LW radiation are indeed having significant impacts on the SIC variation. A new record low occurred in the summer of 2012 was mainly triggered by a super storm over the central Arctic Ocean in early August that caused substantial mechanical ice deformation on top of the long-term thinning of an Arctic ice pack that had become more dominated by seasonal ice.