Open AccessInfluence of the Icelandic Low latitude on the frequency of Greenland tip jet events: Implications for Irminger Sea convection
Author(s) -
Bakalian F.,
Hameed S.,
Pickart R.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2006jc003807
Subject(s) - geology , oceanography , icelandic , jet (fluid) , climatology , north atlantic oscillation , jet stream , latitude , groenlandia , middle latitudes , convection , atmospheric sciences , geography , meteorology , ice sheet , geodesy , physics , philosophy , linguistics , thermodynamics
The occurrence of Greenland tip jet events has been reported as the dominant factor controlling the formation of intermediate water in the Irminger Sea. It has been suggested that the frequency of these events is correlated with the North Atlantic Oscillation. To examine this process in more detail, we separate the North Atlantic Oscillation into Icelandic Low and Azores High components and carry out a regression fit of the frequency of tip jet events between 1961 and 2005. Our findings suggest that the frequency of Greenland tip jet events is highly dependent on the latitude of the Icelandic Low and the 2‐year time‐lagged February Icelandic Low latitude, with R 2 = 0.48. We find that the winds near the southern tip of Greenland are predominately westerly during years when the Iceland Low is located above 63°N latitude. These conditions also correspond to colder air temperatures in the Labrador and Irminger Seas, implying larger oceanic heat losses due to the Greenland tip jet events and hence stronger convective overturning in the Irminger Sea.