The influence of Arctic amplification on mid-latitude summer circulation

The influence of Arctic amplification on mid-latitude summer circulation

Accelerated warming in the Arctic, as compared to the rest of the globe, might have profound impacts on mid-latitude weather. Most studies analyzing Arctic links to mid-latitude weather focused on winter, yet recent summers have seen strong reductions in sea-ice extent and snow cover, a weakened equ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature communications 2018-08, Vol.9 (1), p.2959-12, Article 2959
Main Authors: Coumou, D, Di Capua, G, Vavrus, S, Wang, L, Wang, S
Format: Article
Language:eng
Subjects:
Amplification
Cold
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Equator
Greenhouse gases
Heat
Ice
Ice cover
Influence
Jet streams (meteorology)
Latitude
Polar environments
Regions
Review
Risk factors
Sea ice
Snow cover
Stratosphere
Summer
Temperature
Weather
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Summary:Accelerated warming in the Arctic, as compared to the rest of the globe, might have profound impacts on mid-latitude weather. Most studies analyzing Arctic links to mid-latitude weather focused on winter, yet recent summers have seen strong reductions in sea-ice extent and snow cover, a weakened equator-to-pole thermal gradient and associated weakening of the mid-latitude circulation. We review the scientific evidence behind three leading hypotheses on the influence of Arctic changes on mid-latitude summer weather: Weakened storm tracks, shifted jet streams, and amplified quasi-stationary waves. We show that interactions between Arctic teleconnections and other remote and regional feedback processes could lead to more persistent hot-dry extremes in the mid-latitudes. The exact nature of these non-linear interactions is not well quantified but they provide potential high-impact risks for society.
ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723