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Characteristics of the broadscale antarctic sea ice extent and the associated atmospheric circulation 1972–1977

Charakteristiken der weiträumigen Ausdehnung des antarktischen Meereises und die damit verbundene atmosphärische Zirkulation 1972/1977

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Summary

The monthly and seasonal means, extremes and variability of the Southern Hemisphere sea ice are examined for a five year period. Its variability is found to be greatest in the longitudes of the Antarctic coastal embayments, and a small but general decline in extent at all seasons throughout the period is observed. At near maximum ice extent (July to November), the 5 year mean of the zonal westerlies to the north of the ice increases with increasing ice extent; however for individual years, at maximum ice extent, there is no clear correlation between zonally averaged ice extent and the strength of the zonal westerlies in the preceding or succeeding month. Comparison with the 5 year mean longitudinal pattern of atmospheric pressure maxima and minima at the latitude of the Antarctic trough points generally to asymmetries in the ice edge, such that it is further north and more variable in regions of frequent low pressure, and further south in regions of relatively high pressure. Examination of a specific longitudinal zone indicates that the pattern of ice extent is clearly regional, and apparently related to variations in the combined oceanic and atmospheric circulation particularly in the Antarctic embayments.

Zusammenfassung

Es werden die monatlichen und jahreszeitlichen Mittel, die Extreme und die Veränderlichkeit des Meereises der Süd-Hemisphäre aufgrund 5jähriger Beobachtungen untersucht. Seine Veränderlichkěit ist am größten in den geographischen Längen der Küsteneinbuchtungen der Antarktis; es wurde auch eine kleine aber allgemeine Abnahme seiner Ausdehnung in allen Jahreszeiten dieser Beobachtungsperiode festgestellt. Zum Maximum der Eisausdehnung (Juli bis November) nimmt das 5jährige Mittel der zonalen Westwinde im Norden des Eises mit zunehmender Eisausdehnung zu; in einzelnen Jahren besteht jedoch zum Maximum der Eisausdehnung keine deutliche Korrelation zwischen der zonal gemittelten Eisausdehnung und der Stärke der zonalen Westströmung im vorhergehenden oder folgenden Monat. Der Vergleich mit dem 5jährigen Mittel der Längenverteilung der atmosphärischen Druck-Maxima und Minima in der Breite des antarktischen Trogs weist allgemein auf Asymmetrien im Eisrand hin, derart, daß er in Gebieten mit häufigem Tiefdruck weiter nördlich liegt und veränderlicher ist und in Gebieten mit relativ hohem Druck weiter südlich liegt. Die Untersuchung einer spezifischen Längenzone zeigt, daß die Verteilung der Eisausdehnung deutlich regional ist und offenbar mit Änderungen in der kombinierten ozeanischen und atmosphärischen Zirkulation in den antarktischen Einbuchtungen in Beziehung steht.

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Streten, N.A., Pike, D.J. Characteristics of the broadscale antarctic sea ice extent and the associated atmospheric circulation 1972–1977. Arch. Met. Geoph. Biokl. A. 29, 279–299 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02247767

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