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Poleward eddy heat flux anomalies associated with recent Arctic sea ice loss
Author(s) -
Hoshi Kazuhira,
Ukita Jinro,
Honda Meiji,
Iwamoto Katsushi,
Nakamura Tetsu,
Yamazaki Koji,
Dethloff Klaus,
Jaiser Ralf,
Handorf Dörthe
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2016gl071893
Subject(s) - stratosphere , sea ice , climatology , geology , arctic ice pack , rossby wave , arctic , troposphere , atmospheric sciences , cryosphere , oceanography
Details of the characteristics of upward planetary wave propagation associated with Arctic sea ice loss under present climate conditions are examined using reanalysis data and simulation results. Recent Arctic sea ice loss results in increased stratospheric poleward eddy heat fluxes in the eastern and central Eurasia regions and enhanced upward propagation of planetary‐scale waves in the stratosphere. A linear decomposition scheme reveals that this modulation of the planetary waves arises from coupling of the climatological planetary wavefield with temperature anomalies for the eastern Eurasia region and with meridional wind anomalies for the central Eurasia region. Propagation of stationary Rossby wave packets results in a dynamic link between these temperature and meridional wind anomalies with sea ice loss over the Barents‐Kara Sea. The results provide strong evidence that recent Arctic sea ice loss significantly modulates atmospheric circulation in winter to modify poleward eddy heat fluxes so as to drive stratosphere‐troposphere coupling processes.