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Author
Proshutinsky, A. ; Dukhovskoy, D. ; Timmermans, M.-L. ; Krishfield, R. ; Bamber, J.L.
Title
Arctic circulation regimes
Type
$loc['typeJournal Article']
Year
2015
Publication
Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences
Abbreviated Journal
Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci
Volume
373
Issue
2052
Pages
Keywords
arctic climate variability ; circulation regimes ; freshwater and heat content
Abstract
Between 1948 and 1996, mean annual environmental parameters in the Arctic experienced a well-pronounced decadal variability with two basic circulation patterns: cyclonic and anticyclonic alternating at 5 to 7 year intervals. During cyclonic regimes, low sea-level atmospheric pressure (SLP) dominated over the Arctic Ocean driving sea ice and the upper ocean counterclockwise; the Arctic atmosphere was relatively warm and humid, and freshwater flux from the Arctic Ocean towards the subarctic seas was intensified. By contrast, during anticylonic circulation regimes, high SLP dominated driving sea ice and the upper ocean clockwise. Meanwhile, the atmosphere was cold and dry and the freshwater flux from the Arctic to the subarctic seas was reduced. Since 1997, however, the Arctic system has been under the influence of an anticyclonic circulation regime (17 years) with a set of environmental parameters that are atypical for this regime. We discuss a hypothesis explaining the causes and mechanisms regulating the intensity and duration of Arctic circulation regimes, and speculate how changes in freshwater fluxes from the Arctic Ocean and Greenland impact environmental conditions and interrupt their decadal variability.
Address
School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Corporate Author
Thesis
Publisher
Place of Publication
Editor
Language
English
Summary Language
Original Title
Series Editor
Series Title
Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume
Series Issue
Edition
ISSN
1364-503X
ISBN
Medium
Area
Expedition
Conference
Funding
PMID:26347536; PMCID:PMC4607701
Approved
$loc['no']
Call Number
COAPS @ mfield @
Serial
109
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