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Role of extratropical cyclones in the recently observed increase in poleward moisture transport into the Arctic Ocean

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Abstract

Poleward atmospheric moisture transport (AMT) into the Arctic Ocean can change atmospheric moisture or water vapor content and cause cloud formation and redistribution, which may change downward longwave radiation and, in turn, surface energy budgets, air temperatures, and sea-ice production and melt. In this study, we found a consistently enhanced poleward AMT across 60°N since 1959 based on the NCAR–NCEP reanalysis. Regional analysis demonstrates that the poleward AMT predominantly occurs over the North Atlantic and North Pacific regions, contributing about 57% and 32%, respectively, to the total transport. To improve our understanding of the driving force for this enhanced poleward AMT, we explored the role that extratropical cyclone activity may play. Climatologically, about 207 extratropical cyclones move across 60°N into the Arctic Ocean each year, among which about 66 (32% of the total) and 47 (23%) originate from the North Atlantic and North Pacific Ocean, respectively. When analyzing the linear trends of the time series constructed by using a 20-year running window, we found a positive correlation of 0.70 between poleward yearly AMT and the integrated cyclone activity index (measurement of cyclone intensity, number, and duration). This shows the consistent multidecadal changes between these two parameters and may suggest cyclone activity plays a driving role in the enhanced poleward AMT. Furthermore, a composite analysis indicates that intensification and poleward extension of the Icelandic low and accompanying strengthened cyclone activity play an important role in enhancing poleward AMT over the North Atlantic region.

摘要

向极大气水汽输送(AMT)进入北冰洋后, 改变了该地区的大气湿度和水含量, 引起云的形成和重新分布. 这会改变向下长波辐射, 进而改变地表能量平衡, 地面气温, 海冰的生成和融化. 在本研究中, 我们基于NCAR-NCEP再分析资料发现, 自1959年以后, 跨过60°N的向极大气水汽输送持续增加. 进一步计算表明, 向极大气水汽输送主要发生在北大西洋和北太平洋, 它们分别占总输送的57%和32%. 为了深入理解增强向极大气水汽输送的驱动力, 我们研究了外热带气旋所起的作用. 在气候平均意义上, 每年有207个外热带气旋跨过60°N进入北冰洋, 其中有66个气旋起源北大西洋(占总数的32%), 43个气旋起源于北太平洋(占总数的23%). 我们使用20年滑动窗口对向极大气水汽输送时间序列和综合气旋活动指数(CAI)时间序列进行线性趋势分析, 发现两者线性趋势都为增加, 而且相关达到0.7. 这表明, 上述两个时间序列的多年代际变化是相互协调的. 同时, 这也表明气旋活动驱动向极大气水汽输送的增强. 进一步的合成分析表明, 冰岛低压在强化的同时向极地中央地区伸展, 与此相伴随的是外热带气旋活动的加强, 这对北大西洋地区向极大气水汽输送的增强起了重要的作用.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the editor, Dr. Tido SEMMLER, and the anonymous reviewers, for providing insightful suggestions and comments that have greatly improved the manuscript. This work was supported by the NSF (Grant Nos. ARC-1023592, ARC-1107509, and PLR-1304684). The computing resources were provided by the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27401, USA

    Gian A. Villamil-Otero & Jing Zhang

  2. Department of Energy and Environmental Systems, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27401, USA

    Jing Zhang

  3. Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Juanxiong He

  4. Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, 99775, USA

    Xiangdong Zhang

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  1. Gian A. Villamil-Otero
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Correspondence to Gian A. Villamil-Otero.

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Villamil-Otero, G.A., Zhang, J., He, J. et al. Role of extratropical cyclones in the recently observed increase in poleward moisture transport into the Arctic Ocean. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 35, 85–94 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-017-7116-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-017-7116-0

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