Arctic glaciers record wavier circumpolar winds

Journal article (2022)

Authors

Ingo Sasgen Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Anette Salles Salles Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Queen's University Belfast
Martin Wegmann University of Bern
B. Wouters Physical and Space Geodesy - CEG , Universiteit Utrecht
Xavier Fettweis Université de Liège
Brice P.Y. Noël Noël Universiteit Utrecht
Christoph Beck Beck Universität Augsburg
Research Group
Physical and Space Geodesy (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2022 Ingo Sasgen, Anette Salles, Martin Wegmann, B. Wouters, Xavier Fettweis, Brice P.Y. Noël, Christoph Beck
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-021-01275-4
More Info
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Published Date

2022

Language

English

Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Geoscience and Remote Sensing

Research Group

Physical and Space Geodesy

Abstract

Glaciers in the Arctic respond sensitively to climate change, recording the polar amplification of global warming with increasing mass loss. Here, we use glacier mass balances in Svalbard and northern Arctic Canada to categorize tropospheric variability and the associated summer circulation over the Arctic. We establish a link between annual glacier mass balances and their respective atmospheric forcings since 1950 using GRACE/GRACE-FO satellite data (2002–2021), as well as regional climate models and reanalysis data (1950–2019). We find that asynchronous behaviour of mass balance between the regions has become very likely since the early 2000s, exceeding the range of previous decadal variability. Related tropospheric circulation exhibits more meridional patterns, a greater influence of meridional heat advection and a wavier summer circulation. The traceable impact on glacier mass balances emphasizes the importance of dynamic next to thermodynamic climate changes for the future of glacier mass loss, Arctic ecology and societal impacts.