Ocean and Polar Research

Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (한국해양과학기술원)
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Change of Regional Atmospheric Circulation Related with Recent Warming in the Antarctic Peninsula

남극반도의 최근 온난화와 관련된 지역적 대기순환의 변화

  • Lee, Jeong-Soon (Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences Kangnung National University) ;
  • Kwon, Tae-Yong (Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences Kangnung National University) ;
  • Lee, Bang-Yong (Korea Polar Research Institute, KORDI) ;
  • Yoon, Ho-Il (Korea Polar Research Institute, KORDI) ;
  • Kim, Jeong-Woo (Department of Earth Sciences Sejong University)
  • 이정순 (강릉대학교 대기환경과학과) ;
  • 권태영 (강릉대학교 대기환경과학과) ;
  • 이방용 (한국해양연구원 극지연구소) ;
  • 윤호일 (한국해양연구원 극지연구소) ;
  • 김정우 (세종대학교 지구정보공학과)
  • Published : 2003.12.31
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Abstract

This study examines the relationship among temperature, wind, and sea level pressure to understand recent warming in the vicinity of the Antarctic Peninsula. To do this, the surface air temperature, NCEP/NCAR reanalysis wind data and sea level pressure data for the period of 40 years are analyzed. The 40-year surface air temperature data in the Antarctic Peninsula reveals relatively the larger warming trends for autumn and winter than other seasons. The variability of the surface air temperature in this region is compared with that of the regional atmospheric circulation. The surface air temperature is positively correlated with frequency of northwesterlies and negatively correlated with frequency of southeasterlies. This relation is more evident in the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula for autumn and winter. The trend analysis of wind frequency in the study area shows increasing and decreasing trends in the frequency of northwesterlies and southeasterlies, respectively, in the northwestern part of the Weddell Sea for autumn and winter. And also it is found that these winds are closely related with decreasing of sea level pressure in the southeastern region of the Antarctic Peninsula. Furthermore from the seasonal variation of sea level pressure in this area, it may be presumed that decreasing of sea level pressure in the southeastern region of the Antarctic Peninsula is related with warming in the vicinity of the Antarctic Peninsula for autumn and winter. Therefore it can be explained that recent warming in the vicinity of the Antarctic Peninsula is caused by positive feedback mechanism, that is, the process that warming in the vicinity of the Antarctic Peninsula can lead to the decrease of sea level pressure in the southeastern region of the Antarctic Peninsula and these pressure decrease in turn lead to the variation of wind direction in northwestern part of Weddell Sea, again the variation of wind direction enhances the warming in the Antarctic Peninsula.

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References

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