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Decadal Changes in the Antarctic Sea Ice Response to the Changing ENSO in the Last Four DecadesSea ice fraction (SIF) over the Ross/Amundsen/Bellingshausen Sea (RAB) are investigated using the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Application, Version 2 (MERRA-2), focusing on the differences in time-lagged response to ENSO between the late 20th (1980–2000, L20) and the early 21st century (2001–2021, E21). The findings suggest that the typical Antarctic response to ENSO is influenced by changes in ENSO type/intensity, highlighting the need for caution when investigating the Antarctic teleconnection. Time-lagged regressions onto the mature phase of El Niño reveal that the SIF decrease and SST increase over the RAB is relatively weaker in E21 and most pronounced at 0–4 months lag. Conversely, the SIF in L20 continues to decline and reaches its peak at two-season lag (5–7 months). Tropospheric wind, pressure, and wave activity in response to El Niño in L20 show a zonally oriented high/low-pressure areas with two-season lag, enhancing the poleward flow that plays a key role in sea ice melt in the RAB, while this pattern in E21 is insignificant at the same lag. This study suggests that stronger (weaker) and more eastern (central) Pacific ENSOs on average in L20 (E21) are associated with this decadal change in the SIF response to ENSO.
Document ID
20230016851
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Accepted Manuscript (Version with final changes)
Authors
Young-Kwon Lim
(University of Maryland, Baltimore County Baltimore, Maryland, United States)
Dong L. Wu ORCID
(Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland, United States)
Kyu-Myong Kim
(Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland, United States)
Jae N. Lee ORCID
(University of Maryland, Baltimore County Baltimore, Maryland, United States)
Date Acquired
November 17, 2023
Publication Date
November 6, 2023
Publication Information
Publication: Atmosphere
Publisher: MDPI
Volume: 14
Issue: 11
Issue Publication Date: November 6, 2023
e-ISSN: 2073-4433
Subject Category
Meteorology and Climatology
Earth Resources and Remote Sensing
Funding Number(s)
WBS: 509496.02.03.01.17.04
CONTRACT_GRANT: 80NSSC22M0001
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Use by or on behalf of the US Gov. Permitted.
Technical Review
NASA Peer Committee
Keywords
Antarctic sea ice
Antarctic dipole
climate variability
Ross
Amundsen
Weddell
ENSO
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