Physics
Scientific paper
Jun 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011georl..3812805v&link_type=abstract
Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 38, Issue 12, CiteID L12805
Physics
Cryosphere: Sea Ice (4540), Atmospheric Processes: Boundary Layer Processes, Atmospheric Processes: Polar Meteorology
Scientific paper
We present a mechanism for wind-driven sea ice export from the Arctic Ocean through Fram Strait for the period 1979-2007, using the output of a high-resolution regional atmospheric climate model. By explicitly calculating the components of the atmospheric momentum budget, we show that not large scale synoptic forcing (LSC), but mainly thermal wind forcing (THW) causes the persistent northerly jet (the Greenland Sea Jet) over Fram Strait. The jet results from horizontal temperature gradients in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL), set up between cold ABL-air over the sea ice covered western Greenland Sea and the relatively warmer ABL over the ice-free eastern Greenland Sea. From 1993 onwards we find a negative trend in THW, due to a stronger response to climate warming of the ABL over the sea ice covered ocean, compared to that over the ice free ocean. Although on average LSC is smaller than THW, year to year variations in LSC explain most of the interannual variability in the sea ice area flux through Fram Strait (R = 0.81). A small positive trend is found for LSC, partly compensating the decrease in THW in recent years.
Kwok Ron
van Angelen J. H.
van den Broeke Michiel R.
No associations
LandOfFree
The Greenland Sea Jet: A mechanism for wind-driven sea ice export through Fram Strait does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The Greenland Sea Jet: A mechanism for wind-driven sea ice export through Fram Strait, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Greenland Sea Jet: A mechanism for wind-driven sea ice export through Fram Strait will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-917225