Propagating Atmospheric Patterns Associated with Sea Ice Motion through the Fram Strait

Abstract

novel analysis method involving phase-shifted complex Hilbert empirical orthogonal functions (HEOFs) was used to examine how variations in predominant propagating patterns of Arctic surface wind influence daily Fram Strait sea ice export F during extended winter (October?April), a primary control on Arctic sea ice volume. Northwesterly winds favorable to F were provided by poleward-moving anticyclones upstream over the Canadian Arctic associated with the leading HEOF of wind and also by eastward-moving cyclones downstream over the Barents Sea associated with the second HEOF of wind. A suite of spatial and statistical analyses indicated that the aggregate of the two propagating patterns largely explains a sea level pressure pattern analyzed in several prior studies as a standing wave oriented east?west across the strait.