Ice Edge Position Sensitivity to Finite-Amplitude Baroclinic Heat Flux Divergence

Abstract

The sensitivity of the ice edge latitude to the changes in the solar constant is examined in a one-dimensional energy balance equation in which the meridional heat flux divergence is obtained from a weakly nonlinear baroclinic theory for a midlatitude ƒplane channel of variable geometry. For typical atmospheric parameters, the rectified eddy beat fluxes produce an alteration of the zonally averaged surface temperature such as to stabilize the position of the ice edge isotherm.