The Influence of Autumn Tropical Atlantic Convection, Independent of Sea Surface Temperature, on Winter Arctic Sea Ice Variability through Teleconnections
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Arctic sea ice reduction has the potential to cause climatic change and extreme weather in the mid- and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. The causes of sea ice variation, such as the influence of tropical sea surface temperature (SST) variation due to El Niño–Southern Oscillation, are actively studied. The notion that tropical SSTs influence atmospheric conditions in mid- and high-latitude regions is widely accepted. Nonetheless, the extent to which SSTs in the eastern tropical Atlantic drive sea ice variability has not been extensively investigated. Here, we show that the autumn eastern tropical Atlantic convective cloud activity, independent of underlying SST, influences interannual variation in wintertime sea ice via atmospheric teleconnection with a lag of 2 months. In years characterized by the heightened convective activity in October, Scandinavian anticyclonic anomalies emerge, driven by a wave train originating from the tropical Atlantic. This contrasts with years marked by inactive convection, which may be related to water vapor transport from the African Sahel. These anticyclonic anomalies facilitate the influx of warm, moist air into the Atlantic Arctic, thereby warming SST in the region and impeding the refreezing of sea ice. The convective activity affects not only the interannual variability of sea ice but also the decadal variability. Since convective activity in the tropical Atlantic is not driven by SST, SST may not serve as a reliable predictor for sea ice forecasting. Clarifying the mechanisms underlying tropical atmospheric convection that are independent of SST is crucial not only for sea ice forecasting but also for predicting extreme weather in midlatitudes. Significance Statement Given the recent rapid loss of sea ice and its impact on global climate, understanding the causes of sea ice variability has become increasingly important. Atmospheric impacts significantly influence sea ice variation, and numerous studies have examined the impact of warm tropical sea surface temperature (SST)-driven atmospheric convection on sea ice through atmospheric teleconnection, i.e., high–low pressure systems from the tropics to the Arctic. Our data analysis shows that autumn convective cloud activity in the eastern tropical Atlantic, which is not driven by SST, affects wintertime Arctic sea ice following a 2-month time lag through atmospheric teleconnections. This discovery challenges the prevalent belief linking tropical SSTs and convective activity, prompting reconsideration of the impact of non-SST-driven tropical convection activity on extreme extratropical weather.
Source: Journal of Climate
Authors: Utanosuke Hiraga, Yoshihiro Tachibana
Institution: Mie University
Language: English
Subfield: Atmospheric Science
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4410742012