The Aleutian Low‐Beaufort Sea Anticyclone: A Climate Index Correlated With the Timing of Springtime Melt in the Pacific Arctic Cryosphere
Abstract
Early and late extremes in the timing of snowmelt have recently been observed in the Pacific Arctic. Subseasonal–to–seasonal forecasts of this timing are important for industry, environmental management, and Arctic communities. In northern Alaska, the timing is influenced by the advection of marine air from the north Pacific by the Aleutian Low, modulated by high pressure centered in the Beaufort Sea. A new climate index that integrates their interaction could advance melt predictions. We define this index based on 850–hPa geopotential height at four fixed locations and refer to it as the Aleutian Low–Beaufort Sea Anticyclone (ALBSA). During positive ALBSA in May, advection of +0.5–1.5 K/day is observed through the Bering Strait. ALBSA is correlated with both snowmelt in northern Alaska and the onset of sea ice melt over the adjacent seas. ALBSA therefore may be suitable for monitoring the relevant circulation patterns and for developing predictive tools.
- Authors:
-
[1];
[3];
[4];
[1]
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences Boulder CO USA, NOAA Physical Sciences Division Boulder CO USA, University of Colorado Boulder Boulder CO USA
- Science and Technology Corporation Boulder CO USA, Retired, NOAA Global Monitoring Division Boulder CO USA
- U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center Juneau AK USA
- NOAA Global Monitoring Division Boulder CO USA
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1560208
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1560209; OSTI ID: 1611973
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0013306
- Resource Type:
- Published Article
- Journal Name:
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Volume: 46 Journal Issue: 13; Journal ID: ISSN 0094-8276
- Publisher:
- American Geophysical Union
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 58 GEOSCIENCES; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; geology
Citation Formats
Cox, C. J., Stone, R. S., Douglas, D. C., Stanitski, D. M., and Gallagher, M. R. The Aleutian Low‐Beaufort Sea Anticyclone: A Climate Index Correlated With the Timing of Springtime Melt in the Pacific Arctic Cryosphere. United States: N. p., 2019.
Web. doi:10.1029/2019GL083306.
Cox, C. J., Stone, R. S., Douglas, D. C., Stanitski, D. M., & Gallagher, M. R. The Aleutian Low‐Beaufort Sea Anticyclone: A Climate Index Correlated With the Timing of Springtime Melt in the Pacific Arctic Cryosphere. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083306
Cox, C. J., Stone, R. S., Douglas, D. C., Stanitski, D. M., and Gallagher, M. R. Mon .
"The Aleutian Low‐Beaufort Sea Anticyclone: A Climate Index Correlated With the Timing of Springtime Melt in the Pacific Arctic Cryosphere". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083306.
@article{osti_1560208,
title = {The Aleutian Low‐Beaufort Sea Anticyclone: A Climate Index Correlated With the Timing of Springtime Melt in the Pacific Arctic Cryosphere},
author = {Cox, C. J. and Stone, R. S. and Douglas, D. C. and Stanitski, D. M. and Gallagher, M. R.},
abstractNote = {Early and late extremes in the timing of snowmelt have recently been observed in the Pacific Arctic. Subseasonal–to–seasonal forecasts of this timing are important for industry, environmental management, and Arctic communities. In northern Alaska, the timing is influenced by the advection of marine air from the north Pacific by the Aleutian Low, modulated by high pressure centered in the Beaufort Sea. A new climate index that integrates their interaction could advance melt predictions. We define this index based on 850–hPa geopotential height at four fixed locations and refer to it as the Aleutian Low–Beaufort Sea Anticyclone (ALBSA). During positive ALBSA in May, advection of +0.5–1.5 K/day is observed through the Bering Strait. ALBSA is correlated with both snowmelt in northern Alaska and the onset of sea ice melt over the adjacent seas. ALBSA therefore may be suitable for monitoring the relevant circulation patterns and for developing predictive tools.},
doi = {10.1029/2019GL083306},
journal = {Geophysical Research Letters},
number = 13,
volume = 46,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2019},
month = {Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2019}
}
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