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2020 Vol. 37, No. 5

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Editorial Notes
Preface to the Special Issue on Antarctic Meteorology and Climate: Past, Present and Future
Jiping LIU, David BROMWICH, Dake CHEN, Raul CORDERO, Thomas JUNG, Marilyn RAPHAEL, John TURNER, Qinghua YANG
2020, 37(5): 421-422. doi: 10.1007/s00376-020-2001-7
Abstract:
News & Views
The 13th and 14th Workshops on Antarctic Meteorology and Climate
Matthew A. LAZZARA, Sophie A. ORENDORF, Taylor P. NORTON, Jordan G. POWERS, David H. BROMWICH, Scott CARPENTIER, John J. CASSANO, Steven R. COLWELL, Arthur M. CAYETTE, Kirstin WERNER
2020, 37(5): 423-430. doi: 10.1007/s00376-019-9215-6
Abstract:
Original Paper
Antarctic Radiosonde Observations Reduce Uncertainties and Errors in Reanalyses and Forecasts over the Southern Ocean: An Extreme Cyclone Case
Kazutoshi SATO, Jun INOUE, Akira YAMAZAKI, Naohiko HIRASAWA, Konosuke SUGIURA, Kyohei YAMADA
2020, 37(5): 431-440. doi: 10.1007/s00376-019-8231-x
Abstract:
Cyclones with strong winds can make the Southern Ocean and the Antarctic a dangerous environment. Accurate weather forecasts are essential for safe shipping in the Southern Ocean and observational and logistical operations at Antarctic research stations. This study investigated the impact of additional radiosonde observations from Research Vessel "Shirase" over the Southern Ocean and Dome Fuji Station in Antarctica on reanalysis data and forecast experiments using an ensemble data assimilation system comprising the Atmospheric General Circulation Model for the Earth Simulator and the Local Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter Experimental Ensemble Reanalysis, version 2. A 63-member ensemble forecast experiment was conducted focusing on an unusually strong Antarctic cyclonic event. Reanalysis data with (observing system experiment) and without (control) additional radiosonde data were used as initial values. The observing system experiment correctly captured the central pressure of the cyclone, which led to the reliable prediction of the strong winds and moisture transport near the coast. Conversely, the control experiment predicted lower wind speeds because it failed to forecast the central pressure of the cyclone adequately. Differences were found in cyclone predictions of operational forecast systems with and without assimilation of radiosonde observations from Dome Fuji Station.
Impact of Assimilation of Radiosonde and UAV Observations from the Southern Ocean in the Polar WRF Model
Qizhen SUN, Timo VIHMA, Marius O. JONASSEN, Zhanhai ZHANG
2020, 37(5): 441-454. doi: 10.1007/s00376-020-9213-8
Abstract:
Weather forecasting in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica is a challenge above all due to the rarity of observations to be assimilated in numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. As observations are expensive and logistically challenging, it is important to evaluate the benefit that additional observations could bring to NWP. Atmospheric soundings applying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have a large potential to supplement conventional radiosonde sounding observations. Here, we applied UAV and radiosonde sounding observations from an RV Polarstern cruise in the ice-covered Weddell Sea in austral winter 2013 to evaluate the impact of their assimilation in the Polar version of the Weather Research and Forecasting (Polar WRF) model. Our experiments revealed small to moderate impacts of radiosonde and UAV data assimilation. In any case, the assimilation of sounding data from both radiosondes and UAVs improved the analyses of air temperature, wind speed, and humidity at the observation site for most of the time. Further, the impact on the results of 5-day-long Polar WRF experiments was often felt over distances of at least 300 km from the observation site. All experiments succeeded in capturing the main features of the evolution of near-surface variables, but the effects of data assimilation varied between different cases. Due to the limited vertical extent of the UAV observations, the impact of their assimilation was limited to the lowermost 1−2-km layer, and assimilation of radiosonde data was more beneficial for modeled sea level pressure and near-surface wind speed.
Atmospheric River Signatures in Radiosonde Profiles and Reanalyses at the Dronning Maud Land Coast, East Antarctica
Irina V. GORODETSKAYA, Tiago SILVA, Holger SCHMITHÜSEN, Naohiko HIRASAWA
2020, 37(5): 455-476. doi: 10.1007/s00376-020-9221-8
Abstract:
Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are an important component of the hydrological cycle linking moisture sources in lower latitudes to the Antarctic surface mass balance. We investigate AR signatures in the atmospheric vertical profiles at the Dronning Maud Land coast, East Antarctica, using regular and extra radiosonde measurements conducted during the Year of Polar Prediction Special Observing Period November 2018 to February 2019. Prominent AR events affecting the locations of Neumayer and Syowa cause a strong increase in specific humidity extending through the mid-troposphere and a strong low-level jet (LLJ). At Neumayer, the peak in the moisture inversion (up to 4 g kg−1) is observed between 800 and 900 hPa, while the LLJ (up to 32 m s−1) is concentrated below 900 hPa. At Syowa the increase in humidity is less pronounced and peaks near the surface, while there is a substantial increase in wind speed (up to 40 m s−1) between 825 and 925 hPa. Moisture transport (MT) within the vertical profile during the ARs attains a maximum of 100 g kg−1 m s−1 at both locations, and is captured by both ERA-Interim and ERA5 reanalysis data at Neumayer, but is strongly underestimated at Syowa. Composites of the enhanced MT events during 2009−19 show that these events represent an extreme state of the lower-tropospheric profile compared to its median values with respect to temperature, humidity, wind speed and, consequently, MT. High temporal- and vertical-resolution radiosonde observations are important for understanding the contribution of these rare events to the total MT towards Antarctica and improving their representation in models.
Recent Near-surface Temperature Trends in the Antarctic Peninsula from Observed, Reanalysis and Regional Climate Model Data
Deniz BOZKURT, David H. BROMWICH, Jorge CARRASCO, Keith M. HINES, Juan Carlos MAUREIRA, Roberto RONDANELLI
2020, 37(5): 477-493. doi: 10.1007/s00376-020-9183-x
Abstract:
This study investigates the recent near-surface temperature trends over the Antarctic Peninsula. We make use of available surface observations, ECMWF’s ERA5 and its predecessor ERA-Interim, as well as numerical simulations, allowing us to contrast different data sources. We use hindcast simulations performed with Polar-WRF over the Antarctic Peninsula on a nested domain configuration at 45 km (PWRF-45) and 15 km (PWRF-15) spatial resolutions for the period 1991−2015. In addition, we include hindcast simulations of KNMI-RACMO21P obtained from the CORDEX-Antarctica domain (~50 km) for further comparisons. Results show that there is a marked windward warming trend except during summer. This windward warming trend is particularly notable in the autumn season and likely to be associated with the recent deepening of the Amundsen/Bellingshausen Sea low and warm advection towards the Antarctic Peninsula. On the other hand, an overall summer cooling is characterized by the strengthening of the Weddell Sea low as well as an anticyclonic trend over the Amundsen Sea accompanied by northward winds. The persistent cooling trend observed at the Larsen Ice Shelf station is not captured by ERA-Interim, whereas hindcast simulations indicate that there is a clear pattern of windward warming and leeward cooling. Furthermore, larger temporal correlations and lower differences exhibited by PWRF-15 illustrate the existence of the added value in the higher spatial resolution simulation.
Towards More Snow Days in Summer since 2001 at the Great Wall Station, Antarctic Peninsula: The Role of the Amundsen Sea Low
Minghu DING, Wei HAN, Tong ZHANG, Xiaoyuan YUE, Jeremy FYKE, Ge LIU, Cunde XIAO
2020, 37(5): 494-504. doi: 10.1007/s00376-019-9196-5
Abstract:
The variation in the precipitation phase in polar regions represents an important indicator of climate change and variability. We studied the precipitation phase at the Great Wall Station and Antarctic Peninsula (AP) region, based on daily precipitation, synoptic records and ERA-Interim data during the austral summers of 1985−2014. Overall, there was no trend in the total precipitation amount or days, but the phase of summer precipitation (rainfall days versus snowfall days) showed opposite trends before and after 2001 at the AP. The total summer rain days/snow days increased/decreased during 1985−2001 and significantly decreased at a rate of −14.13 d (10 yr)−1/increased at a rate of 14.31 d (10 yr)−1 during 2001−2014, agreeing well with corresponding variations in the surface air temperature. Further, we found that the longitudinal location of the Amundsen Sea low (ASL) should account for the change in the precipitation phase since 2001, as it has shown a westward drift after 2001 [−41.1° (10 yr)−1], leading to stronger cold southerly winds, colder water vapor flux, and more snow over the AP region during summertime. This study points out a supplementary factor for the climate variation on the AP.
Stratospheric Ozone-induced Cloud Radiative Effects on Antarctic Sea Ice
Yan XIA, Yongyun HU, Jiping LIU, Yi HUANG, Fei XIE, Jintai LIN
2020, 37(5): 505-514. doi: 10.1007/s00376-019-8251-6
Abstract:
Recent studies demonstrate that the Antarctic Ozone Hole has important influences on Antarctic sea ice. While most of these works have focused on effects associated with atmospheric and oceanic dynamic processes caused by stratospheric ozone changes, here we show that stratospheric ozone-induced cloud radiative effects also play important roles in causing changes in Antarctic sea ice. Our simulations demonstrate that the recovery of the Antarctic Ozone Hole causes decreases in clouds over Southern Hemisphere (SH) high latitudes and increases in clouds over the SH extratropics. The decrease in clouds leads to a reduction in downward infrared radiation, especially in austral autumn. This results in cooling of the Southern Ocean surface and increasing Antarctic sea ice. Surface cooling also involves ice-albedo feedback. Increasing sea ice reflects solar radiation and causes further cooling and more increases in Antarctic sea ice.
Impacts of High-Frequency Atmospheric Forcing on Southern Ocean Circulation and Antarctic Sea Ice
Yang WU, Zhaomin WANG, Chengyan LIU, Xia LIN
2020, 37(5): 515-531. doi: 10.1007/s00376-020-9203-x
Abstract:
The relative contributions of atmospheric fluctuations on 6 h−2 d, 2−8 d, and 8 d−1 month time scales to the changes in the air−sea fluxes, the SO circulation, and Antarctic sea ice are investigated. It was found that the imposed forcing variability on the three time scales creates a significant increase in wind power input, and hence an increase of about 50%, 97%, and 5% of eddy kinetic energy relative to the simulation driven by monthly forcing, respectively. Also, SO circulation and the strength of the upper cell of meridional overturning circulation become strengthened. These results indicate more dominant effects of atmospheric variability on the 2−8 d time scale on the SO circulation. Meanwhile, the 6 h−2 d (2−8 d) atmospheric variability causes an increase in the total sea-ice extent, area, and volume, by about 33%, 30%, and 19% (17%, 20%, and 25%), respectively, relative to those in the experiment forced by monthly atmospheric variables. Such significant sea-ice increases are caused by a cooler ocean surface and stronger sea-ice transports owing to the enhanced heat losses and air-ice stresses induced by the atmospheric variability at 6 h−2 d and 2−8 d, while the effects of the variability at 8 d−1 month are rather weak. The influences of atmospheric variability found here mainly result from wind fluctuations. Our findings in this study indicate the importance of properly resolving high-frequency atmospheric variability in modeling studies.
Specific Relationship between the Surface Air Temperature and the Area of the Terra Nova Bay Polynya, Antarctica
Yifan DING, Xiao CHENG, Xichen LI, Mohammed SHOKR, Jiawei YUAN, Qinghua YANG, Fengming HUI
2020, 37(5): 532-544. doi: 10.1007/s00376-020-9146-2
Abstract:
Antarctic polynyas play an important role in regional atmosphere−ice−ocean interactions and are considered to help generate the global deep ocean conveyer belt. Polynyas therefore have a potential impact on the Earth’s climate in terms of the production of sea ice and high-salinity shelf water. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the area of the Terra Nova Bay polynya and the air temperature as well as the eastward and northward wind based on the ERA5 and ERA-Interim reanalysis datasets and observations from automatic weather stations during the polar night. We examined the correlation between each factor and the polynya area under different temperature conditions. Previous studies have focused more on the effect of winds on the polynya, but the relationship between air temperature and the polynya area has not been fully investigated. Our study shows, eliminating the influence of winds, lower air temperature has a stronger positive correlation with the polynya area. The results show that the relationship between the polynya area and air temperature is more likely to be interactively influenced. As temperature drops, the relationship of the polynya area with air temperature becomes closer with increasing correlation coefficients. In the low temperature conditions, the correlation coefficients of the polynya area with air temperature are above 0.5, larger than that with the wind speed.
Refractory Black Carbon Results and a Method Comparison between Solid-state Cutting and Continuous Melting Sampling of a West Antarctic Snow and Firn Core
Luciano MARQUETTO, Susan KASPARI, Jefferson Cardia SIMÕES, Emil BABIK
2020, 37(5): 545-554. doi: 10.1007/s00376-019-9124-8
Abstract:
This work presents the refractory black carbon (rBC) results of a snow and firn core drilled in West Antarctica (79°55'34.6"S, 94°21'13.3"W) during the 2014−15 austral summer, collected by Brazilian researchers as part of the First Brazilian West Antarctic Ice Sheet Traverse. The core was drilled to a depth of 20 m, and we present the results of the first 8 m by comparing two subsampling methods—solid-state cutting and continuous melting—both with discrete sampling. The core was analyzed at the Department of Geological Sciences, Central Washington University (CWU), WA, USA, using a single particle soot photometer (SP2) coupled to a CETAC Marin-5 nebulizer. The continuous melting system was recently assembled at CWU and these are its first results. We also present experimental results regarding SP2 reproducibility, indicating that sample concentration has a greater influence than the analysis time on the reproducibility for low rBC concentrations, like those found in the Antarctic core. Dating was carried out using mainly the rBC variation and sulfur, sodium and strontium as secondary parameters, giving the core 17 years (1998−2014). The data show a well-defined seasonality of rBC concentrations for these first meters, with geometric mean summer/fall concentrations of 0.016 μg L−1 and geometric mean winter/spring concentrations of 0.063 μg L−1. The annual rBC concentration geometric mean was 0.029 μg L−1 (the lowest of all rBC cores in Antarctica referenced in this work), while the annual rBC flux was 6.1 μg m−2 yr−1 (the lowest flux in West Antarctica records so far).