From the Surface to the Stratosphere: Large‐Scale Atmospheric Response to Antarctic Meltwater
Abstract The ocean response to Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) mass loss has been extensively studied using numerical models, but less attention has been given to the atmosphere. We examine the global atmospheric response to AIS meltwater in an ensemble of experiments performed using two fully coupled climate models under a pre‐industrial climate. In response to AIS meltwater, the experiments yield cooling from the surface to the tropopause over the subpolar Southern Ocean, warming in the Southern Hemisphere polar stratosphere, and cooling in the upper tropical troposphere. Positive feedbacks, initiated by disrupted ocean‐atmosphere heat exchange, result in a change in the top‐of‐atmosphere radiative balance caused primarily through surface and near‐surface albedo changes. Changes in the atmospheric thermal structure alter the jet streams aloft. The results highlight the global influence of AIS melting on the climate system and the potential for impacts on mid‐latitude climate patterns and delayed regional warming signals.
Authors
- W. Ellinger
- María J. Molina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8539-8916)
- John P. Krasting (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4650-9844)
- Katherine Turner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1666-1690)
- Rebecca L. Beadling (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9491-8776)
- Torge Martin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0882-8780)
- Pu Lin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2577-6094)
- Xiaoqi Xu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7492-9160)
- Anna Coomans
- James Milward
Institutions
- NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (US)
- U.S. National Science Foundation (US)
- University of Arizona (US)
- NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (US)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Princeton University (US)
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (DE)
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- University of Maryland, College Park (US)
- Temple University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Published
- 2024-11-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1029/2024gl110157
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Cryospheric studies and observations
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.88
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- U.S. Department of Energy
- U.S. Department of Commerce
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Office of Science
- Office of Polar Programs
- Division of Polar Programs