Arctic Climate Variability

Arctic sea ice plays an important role in the global climate system due to its high reflectivity of solar radiance, isolation effects and melting- and freezing processes. Sea ice export through Fram Strait is the largest source of ice export from the Arctic into the North Atlantic Ocean. The author uses a global climate model to analyze Arctic climate variability with special focus on the Arctic sea ice export and its impact on northern hemispheric climate. The Fram Strait sea ice export shows pronounced interannual and decadal variability, which is mainly caused by variations of wind stress and sea ice thickness in Fram Strait. The physical mechanisms of these variations are investigated. Large Fram Strait sea ice export events affect oceanic and atmospheric climate conditions in the Labrador Sea one and two years later. Hence, Fram Strait sea ice export shows a high potential for predictability of climate in the Labrador Sea. This book is addressed to readers with physical and mathematical knowledge interested in Arctic climate.