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The Pacific zonal asymmetry and its influence on Southern Hemisphere sea ice variability

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 14:38 authored by William HobbsWilliam Hobbs, Raphael, MN
At monthly and annual timescales, the zonally asymmetric circulation over the Southern Ocean is dominated by two quasi-stationary anticyclones: a western anticyclone approximately located south of New Zealand, and an eastern anticyclone located over the Drake Passage region. In this research their influence on late 20th century Antarctic sea ice is explored. During early winter, sea ice in the Weddell, Amundsen and Bellingshausen seas is influenced by the location of the east anticyclone. During late winter, the strength and location of the west anticyclone influences sea ice primarily in the Ross and Amundsen seas. The anticyclones have some effect on wind-driven sea ice motion, but the primary mechanism explaining their link to sea ice appears to be meridional atmospheric thermal advection. A western shift in the west anticyclone may be partly responsible for observed increases in ice cover in the Ross Sea over the late 20th century, but there is little evidence in existing data to support a link between the east anticyclone and observed sea ice trends.

History

Publication title

Antarctic Science

Volume

22

Issue

5

Pagination

559-571

ISSN

0954-1020

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Cambridge Univ Press

Place of publication

40 West 20Th St, New York, USA, Ny, 10011-4211

Rights statement

Copyright 2010 Antarctic Science.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Climate variability (excl. social impacts)

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