Antarctic Peninsula climate variability and its causes as revealed by analysis of instrumental records
Climate observations made since the mid twentieth century reveal that the Antarctic Peninsula is a region of extreme climate variability and change. The pattern of change is, however, both seasonally and spatially inhomogeneous. Limited data from the east (Weddell Sea) coast indicate that surface air temperatures here are rising at around 0.03 degreesC per year in all seasons. On the west (Bellingshausen Sea) coast, summer temperature trends are similar to those prevailing on the east coast but, in winter, warming trends of over 0.1 degreesC per year are observed, making this the most rapidly warming part of the Southern Hemisphere. Rapid warming is confined to the very lowest levels of the atmosphere and warming of the free troposphere over the Peninsula is not statistically significantly different from the Southern Hemisphere average. Interannual variations in winter temperatures on the west coast are strongly correlated with variations in atmospheric circulation and sea ice extent, suggesting that both atmospheric and ice/ocean processes may be contributing to the long-term warming. However, there is little observational evidence to support long-term atmospheric circulation changes. Coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model (AOGCM) experiments, forced with observed greenhouse gas increase, fail to reproduce the observed pattern of warming around the Peninsula. However, current AOGCMs may not be sophisticated enough or of high enough resolution to represent all of the processes that control climate on a regional scale around the Antarctic Peninsula.
Details
Publication status:
Published
Author(s):
Authors: King, J.C., Turner, J. ORCID record for J. Turner, Marshall, G.J. ORCID record for G.J. Marshall, Connolley, W.M., Lachlan-Cope, T.A. ORCID record for T.A. Lachlan-Cope
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're okay with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRead more
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.