Near‐Surface Wind Convergence Along the Sea Ice Edge in the Greenland Sea: Its Mean State and Shaping Process

• Published in: Journal of geophysical research. Atmospheres Vol. 129; no. 16
• Main Author: Masunaga, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington Blackwell Publishing Ltd 28-08-2024
• Subjects: Anticyclonic circulation; Arctic sea ice; Arctic zone; Atmosphere; Atmospheric circulation; Atmospheric fronts; Boundary currents; Boundary processes; Circulation; Climate science; Climatology; Convergence; Cyclones; Free atmosphere; Fronts; Gulf Stream; Ice cover; Ice edge; Ice environments; Ice thickness; Latitude; Ocean basins; Ocean currents; Polar environments; Polar regions; Remote regions; Rivers; Sea currents; Sea ice; Sea ice effects; Sea ice thickness; Sea surface temperature; Surface roughness; Surface temperature; Surface wind; Temperature gradients; Variability; Virtual temperature; Warm currents; Warm seasons; Western boundary currents; Wind; Wind effects; Winds; Greenland Sea; Greenland
• ISSN: 2169-897X; 2169-8996
• DOI: 10.1029/2024JD040888

At mid‐latitudes, a narrow band of near‐surface wind convergence (NSWC) overlies the western boundary currents in long‐term climatology as a response to steep sea surface temperature gradients. The underlying dynamics shaping mean convergence in the mid‐latitude region have been investigated in detail. In polar regions, surface temperature gradients are intense along the sea ice edges. However, literature concerning NSWC near sea ice edges is limited. This study investigates time‐mean NSWC along sea ice edges and its shaping processes, focusing on the Greenland Sea, based on atmospheric reanalysis. In cold‐season climatology, positive NSWC overlies the sea ice edge, resulting in a localized upward motion reaching the free atmosphere. The mean NSWC was insensitive to sea ice thickness and surface roughness in the regional model. This study suggests that, in addition to local atmospheric boundary processes, extreme NSWC events play a vital role in shaping the mean distribution. Although these features are similar to those along the Gulf Stream, atmospheric fronts appear to play a relatively minor role in the Greenland Sea. Instead, the frequent cyclone generation near the sea ice edge and the anticyclonic circulation over Greenland in conjunction with the transient synoptic circulation seem essential. In the warm season, positive NSWC was virtually missing in the Greenland Sea, unlike in the Gulf Stream region, reflecting the shallow virtual temperature response to the surface thermal forcing. This study contributes to understanding the mechanisms by which sea ice variability affects large‐scale atmospheric circulation in remote regions.
Plain Language Summary
Previous studies have argued that sea ice variability in Arctic regions could affect large‐scale atmospheric circulation in remote regions. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. A deeper understanding of the impact of sea ice on the local atmosphere will aid in revealing these mechanisms. The present study investigates small‐scale (less than 1,000 km) atmospheric features close to sea‐ice edges, where surface temperature gradients are intense and can exert distinct impacts on the atmosphere. In the winter, the sea‐ice edge distinctly modulates the near‐surface wind, leading to an narrow band of intense upward wind. This upward wind reaches the middle of the atmosphere, suggesting that these features could relate to the effect of sea ice variability on large‐scale atmospheric circulation in remote regions. The physical processes modulating the mean near‐surface winds near the sea‐ice edge are found to be similar to those along the warm currents at the western edge of the basins (such as the Gulf Stream). However, atmospheric fronts appear to play a less important role. Instead, the frequent cyclone generation near the sea‐ice edge and the combination of the clockwise near‐surface wind around Greenland and near‐surface wind blowing from the ocean to sea‐ice regions appear essential.
Key Points
A distinct band of mean near‐surface wind convergence overlies the sea ice edge in the Greenland Sea during winter
The mean near‐surface wind convergence along the sea ice edge is insensitive to ice thickness and surface roughness in a numerical model
The anticyclonic circulation over Greenland and transient synoptic circulation are essential for shaping the time‐mean wind convergence