Journal Article

Atmospheric and Surface Processes, and Feedback Mechanisms Determining Arctic Amplification

Kovács, T., Notholt, J., Siebert, H., Salzmann, M., Griesche, H., Moser, M., Nomokonova, T., Jafariserajehlou, S., Kanzow, T., van Pinxteren, M., Pohl, C., Klingebiel, M., Losch, M., Shupe, M. D., Bärfuss, K., Quaas, J., Schemann, V., Krampe, D., Pefanis, V., Stachlewska, I. S., Ehrlich, A., Hartmann, M., Lauer, M., Papakonstantinou-Presvelou, I., Hölemann, J., Walbröl, A., Bretschneider, L., Harm-Altstädter, B., Rex, M., Herber, A., Mewes, D., Neuber, R., von Lerber, A., Handorf, D., Seo, S., Lampert, A., Chechin, D. G., Kliesch, L. L., Körtke, W., Hartmann, J., Wehner, B., Crewell, S., Rostosky, P., Höschel, I., Donth, T., Hünerbein, A., Kreyling, D., Käthner, R., Jourdan, O., Zeppenfeld, S., Nakoudi, K., Ritter, C., Heygster, G., Barrientos-Velasco, C., Oelker, J., Jacobi, C., Tegen, I., Mei, L., Jansen, F., Gorodetskaya, I. V., Zanatta, M., Bougoudis, I., Walter, M., Schnierstein, N., Michaelis, J., Bozem, H., Akansu, E. F., Spreen, G., Burrows, J. P., Pätzold, F., Neggers, R., Voigt, C., Herrmann, H., Hofmann, Z., Dorn, W., Schacht, J., Deneke, H., Dethloff, K., Rhein, M., Mertes, S., Viceto, C., Mioche, G., Willmes, S., Chylik, J., Kunkel, D., Eg

2023

Overview

Mechanisms behind the phenomenon of Arctic amplification are widely discussed. To contribute to this debate, the (AC)³ project was established in 2016 (www.ac3-tr.de/). It comprises modeling and data analysis efforts as well as observational elements. The project has assembled a wealth of ground-based, airborne, shipborne, and satellite data of physical, chemical, and meteorological properties of the Arctic atmosphere, cryosphere, and upper ocean that are available for the Arctic climate research community. Short-term changes and indications of long-term trends in Arctic climate parameters have been detected using existing and new data. For example, a distinct atmospheric moistening, an increase of regional storm activities, an amplified winter warming in the Svalbard and North Pole regions, and a decrease of sea ice thickness in the Fram Strait and of snow depth on sea ice have been identified. A positive trend of tropospheric bromine monoxide (BrO) column densities during polar spring was verified. Local marine/biogenic sources for cloud condensation nuclei and ice nucleating particles were found. Atmospheric–ocean and radiative transfer models were advanced by applying new parameterizations of surface albedo, cloud droplet activation, convective plumes and related processes over leads, and turbulent transfer coefficients for stable surface layers. Four modes of the surface radiative energy budget were explored and reproduced by simulations. To advance the future synthesis of the results, cross-cutting activities are being developed aiming to answer key questions in four focus areas: lapse rate feedback, surface processes, Arctic mixed-phase clouds, and airmass transport and transformation.

• Publisher: American Meteorological Society
• Subject: Albedo / Arctic climates / Arctic clouds / Arctic research / Bromine / Climate / Climate change / Cloud albedo / Cloud condensation nuclei / Cloud droplets / Clouds / Condensation nuclei / Cross cutting / Cryosphere / Data analysis / Energy budget / Feedback / Global warming / Heat / Ice / Ice cover / Ice thickness / Lapse rate / North Pole / Oceans / Plumes / Radiation / Radiative transfer / Radiative transfer models / Satellite data / Sea ice / Sea ice thickness / Short-term changes / Snow accumulation / Snow depth / Storms / Summer / Surface boundary layer / Surface layers / Turbulent transfer / Upper ocean / Winter