Open AccessPropagating Atmospheric Patterns Associated with Sea Ice Motion through the Fram Strait
Author(s) -
Jessica Liptak,
Courtenay Strong
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of climate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.315
H-Index - 287
eISSN - 1520-0442
pISSN - 0894-8755
DOI - 10.1175/jcli-d-12-00599.1
Subject(s) - empirical orthogonal functions , geology , climatology , sea ice , arctic ice pack , oceanography , anticyclone , arctic
A novel analysis method involving phase-shifted complex Hilbert empirical orthogonal functions (HEOFs) was used to examine how variations in predominant propagating patterns of Arctic surface wind influence daily Fram Strait sea ice export F during extended winter (October–April), a primary control on Arctic sea ice volume. Northwesterly winds favorable to F were provided by poleward-moving anticyclones upstream over the Canadian Arctic associated with the leading HEOF of wind and also by eastward-moving cyclones downstream over the Barents Sea associated with the second HEOF of wind. A suite of spatial and statistical analyses indicated that the aggregate of the two propagating patterns largely explains a sea level pressure pattern analyzed in several prior studies as a standing wave oriented east–west across the strait.