Open AccessOn the influence of North Pacific sea surface temperature on the Arctic winter climate
Author(s) -
Hurwitz M. M.,
Newman P. A.,
Garfinkel C. I.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2012jd017819
Subject(s) - polar vortex , teleconnection , climatology , stratosphere , northern hemisphere , environmental science , arctic , arctic oscillation , middle latitudes , troposphere , atmospheric sciences , sea surface temperature , atmospheric circulation , climate model , climate change , oceanography , geology , el niño southern oscillation
Differences between two ensembles of Goddard Earth Observing System Chemistry‐Climate Model simulations isolate the impact of North Pacific sea surface temperatures (SSTs) on the Arctic winter climate. One ensemble of extended winter season forecasts is forced by unusually high SSTs in the North Pacific, while in the second ensemble SSTs in the North Pacific are unusually low. High – Low differences are consistent with a strengthened Western Pacific atmospheric teleconnection pattern, and in particular, a weakening of the Aleutian low. This relative change in tropospheric circulation inhibits planetary wave propagation into the stratosphere, in turn reducing polar stratospheric temperature in mid‐ and late winter. The number of winters with sudden stratospheric warmings is approximately tripled in the Low ensemble as compared with the High ensemble. Enhanced North Pacific SSTs, and thus a more stable and persistent Arctic vortex, lead to a relative decrease in lower stratospheric ozone in spring, affecting the April clear‐sky UV index at Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes.