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Close correlation between global air temperature change and polar motion during 1962–2013
Author(s) -
Huang Mei,
Zhu Lin,
Gong He,
Shao Yaping
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1002/2016jd024842
Subject(s) - polar motion , polar , climate change , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , climatology , motion (physics) , air temperature , earth (classical element) , physics , earth's rotation , geology , geodesy , classical mechanics , oceanography , astronomy , mathematical physics
Polar motion is an important Earth orientation parameter, but our understanding of its relation to global climate change is highly uncertain. In this study, we examine the links between polar motion excitation and annual mean air temperature during the period of 1962–2013 and discuss the possible responsible mechanisms. The regions of positive correlation correspond well with the warming centers. Spectral analysis shows that they have strong signals at similar frequencies. Strong correlations are also found between the polar motion and surface air pressure and vertical integrated zonal wind. This implies that polar motion serves as an important indicator of global climate change, and thus, the feedbacks between the solid Earth and the climate system deserve careful considerations.