Study Explores How Declining Arctic Sea Influences Atmospheric Circualion

A new research published in the International Journal of Climatology states that reduction in Arctic sea ice levels will influence patterns of atmospheric circulation, both within and beyond the Arctic.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado, investigated the impact of 2007 ice conditions, which was the second-lowest Arctic sea ice extent in the satellite era, on both the atmospheric circulation as well as the surface temperatures.

In order to access the impact of ice-free seas, the researchers used two 30-year simulations. In one, they used the sea ice levels of 2007, and in another, they used the sea ice levels that existed at the end of the 20^th century.  On doing so, they noticed a significant response to the anomalous open water of 2007.

Based on the finding, it was confirmed that the decline of sea ice and its impact on the atmosphere had implications beyond the Arctic, such as decrease in the pole to equator temperature gradient, considering the increased temperatures linked with increased in open water. This can lead to a weaker jet stream and fewer turbulences in mid-latitude, reports Yahoo.com.

"In the context of decreasing Arctic sea ice extent, our experiments investigating the impacts of anomalous open water on the atmosphere showed increased heat transfer from the ocean to the atmosphere and warmer temperatures in areas of reduced sea ice. Comparing the model simulated circulation to the observed circulation for the summer of 2007 (the year of focus for the model experiments), we found the simulated circulation to be quite different than what was observed for spring and summer while more similar for autumn and fall," said Elizabeth Cassano from the University of Colorado.

The study shows that the sea ice conditions in the months before and during the 2007 summers were not accountable for adding to the circulation pattern, which supported the loss of sea ice that year. The autumn and winter circulation was similar between the model simulations and the observed circulation, indicating that the reduction in sea ice in 2007 was responsible for the observed atmospheric circulation during autumn and winter of that year.