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Antarctic sea ice and related atmospheric circulation during FGGE

Das antarktische Meereis und seine Beziehung zur atmosphärischen Zirkulation im FGGE

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Summary

Anomalies in zonally averaged and regional Antarctic sea ice extent during the FGGE year (1978–79) are outlined. Interest is centred on the early months of 1979 when substantially less than normal ice occurred in the Ross Sea sector, and more than normal in the Weddell Sea sector. The latter anomaly was maintained and extended eastward to the African sector during the winter and spring of 1979. The ice anomalies are found to be associated with contrasting general circulation conditions described primarily by indices of the strength of the mid-latitude westerlies and regional poleward anomalies in the displacement of the subtropical high pressure belt. In general however, the track, intensity and frequency of cyclones in relation to both the ice edge location and to the prevailing thermal conditions at the ocean surface appear to be the most significant factors affecting the development and maintenance of the ice anomalies.

Zusammenfassung

Anomalien der zonal gemittelten und regionalen Ausdehnung des antarktischen Meereises im FGGE-Jahr (1978–1979) werden dargelegt. Die Aufmerksamkeit ist besonders auf die ersten Monate des Jahres 1979 gerichtet, als das Meereis mengenmäßig im Abschnitt des Ross-Meeres unternormal und im Abschnitt des Weddell-Meeres übernormal war. Letztere Anomalie blieb während des Winters und des Frühlings 1979 erhalten und dehnte sich ostwärts zum afrikanischen Abschnitt hin aus. Es wurde festgestellt, daß die Anomalien des Eises mit kontrastierenden Verhältnissen der allgemeinen Zirkulation in Verbindung stehen, die in erster Linie durch Indizes der Stärke der Westwinde mittlerer Breiten und regional polwärts gerichteter Anomalien der Verlagerung des subtropischen Hochdruckgürtels beschrieben werden. Im allgemeinen scheinen die Bahn, die Intensität und die Häufigkeit von Zyklonen in Beziehung zur Lage der Eisgrenze und zu vorherrschenden thermischen Verhältnissen an der Meeresoberfläche die signifikantesten Faktoren zu sein, die die Entwicklung und die Erhaltung der Anomalien des Eises beeinflussen.

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  1. Australian Numerical Meteorology Research Centre, P.O. Box S089AA, 3001, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    N. A. Streten

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Streten, N.A. Antarctic sea ice and related atmospheric circulation during FGGE. Arch. Met. Geoph. Biocl. A. 32, 231–246 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291894

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291894

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