Svalbard’s Mesoscale Environmental Factor Impact on the Wind Field

Abstract

The mesoscale circulation along the west shore of Spitsbergen is largely controlled by the difference in temperature between the glaciers and surface sea temperatures. We describe how the mesoscale effect influences the atmospheric circulation patterns. The conducted research was based on reanalysis data, model data, and atmospheric measurements; wind data from different sources and scales were compared and analysed. We discuss the situations wherein the mesoscale effect can be identified by analysing the wind direction or its velocity. This study shows the role of the mesoscale effect on the wind in the Svalbard region. Different situations according to the atmospheric patterns taken from a catalogue of 21 circulation types for each day created for Svalbard are analysed and compared with cases of land-sea breeze type circulation for the 20-year period between 1994 and 2013. It is proved that even if it is not possible to distinguish this mesoscale effect based on the difference between local and large-scale wind directions, this factor can be observed by studying the wind speeds. It is claimed that as long as there are glaciers on Spitsbergen, there will be a mesoscale land-sea breeze type circulation controlled by the difference in air temperature over land and water.

Keywords

• arctic
• svalbard
• atmospheric circulation
• climate
• wind