The influence of the modes of climate variability in antarctic surface temperature

• Published in: Revista brasileira de meteorologia Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 214 - 222
• Main Authors: Lindemann, Douglas da Silva, Justino, Flavio Barbosa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-06-2015
• Subjects: PSW, Antarctica, Antarctic Peninsula; PS, Antarctica; Antarctica, East Antarctica, Antarctic Plateau, Dome C; ANE, British Isles, Scotland, Shetland; PS, Ross Sea
• ISSN: 0102-7786; 1982-4351
• DOI: 10.1590/0102-778620120534

This study analyzes the seasonal variation in surface air temperature (Tar) in Antarctica, and its relationship with the modes of climate variability, namely El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Antarctic Oscillation (AO). The results indicate that during the 4 seasonal periods the Tar in the stations located in the eastern sector of Antarctica showed significant negative correlations (at 1% significance level on most stations) with AO. However, the only seasonal period in which the continental sector (Amundsen-Scott, Dome C), showed strong negative correlation with the AO was in winter (at 1%). Positive correlations were found (ranging from 1% to 5%) between the Tar values at the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland with AO for autumn, winter and spring. These results demonstrate the influence that AO exerts on the climatology of the Tar in Antarctica. It is important to note a dipole between eastern regions of Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula concerning the influences of AO. The ENSO mode presented significant negative correlation with the three stations at the Antarctic Peninsula only during the spring, while for the station Rothera, at the West sector the correlation was also significant for the autumn and winter. The correlation between ENSO and Tar was positive and significant in the Ross Sea sector during the spring, and with the eastern sector of Antarctica during the summer, with significance level reaching 5%.