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The Influence of Arctic Amplification on Mid-latitude Weather and Climate

  • Arctic Climate Change (Mark Serreze, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The rapidly warming Arctic climate may affect weather in middle latitudes, but controversies remain as to mechanisms and robustness. Here, I synthesize recent advances in this rapidly changing field and summarize recommendations on paths forward.

Recent Findings

Initial “black-and-white” debates about whether Arctic amplification (AA) affects mid-latitude circulation have evolved toward a more nuanced perspective awash in gray. Recent research has demonstrated myriad ways in which AA can influence weather remotely and explored whether any Arctic-based signal is significant against the backdrop of natural variability.

Summary

The popularity of and controversies surrounding this topic have spurred a multitude of approaches and often-conflicting studies that have widened the envelope of our understanding but hindered a scientific consensus. This messy but necessary exploratory phase of independent investigations is benefiting from recent efforts by the research community to self-organize through workshops, working groups, and coordinated experiments.

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Acknowledgements

The author thanks Jennifer Francis for her constructive feedback in informally reviewing this paper.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant PLR-1304398 and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grant NA15OAR4310166.

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  1. Nelson Institute Center for Climatic Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1225 West Dayton Street, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Stephen J. Vavrus

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  1. Stephen J. Vavrus
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Correspondence to Stephen J. Vavrus.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Arctic Climate Change

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Vavrus, S.J. The Influence of Arctic Amplification on Mid-latitude Weather and Climate. Curr Clim Change Rep 4, 238–249 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40641-018-0105-2

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