Sea ice in the Weddell Sea and its relationship with the South Atlantic Subtropical High and precipitation in South America

Abstract

Abstract This study aims to evaluate the position and intensity of the South Atlantic Subtropical High (SASH), related to sea ice extent (SIE) retraction and expansion in the Weddell Sea, assessing precipitation in South America. We assess the difference between atmospheric fields related to SIE (four most intense retraction events minus four most intense expansion events) in February. To this end, we used NSIDC SIE, ERA-5 reanalysis, CHIRPS precipitation, ICOADS SST, ONI/SAM indexes (CPC/NOAA). In the following month, under neutral ENSO and SAM, we observed tropospheric warming in the Weddell Sea and cooling in the mid-latitudes South Atlantic. There is a weakening of both the Weddell Sea circumpolar low and the high pressures between tropical and subtropical latitudes, in addition to the equatorward shift of the Ferrel cell. Therefore, SASH weakens and contracts, resulting in a reduction of the tropical Atlantic moisture supply to South America and negative precipitation anomalies in the tropical region - similar to the suppression pattern of the South Atlantic Convergence Zone. Our results suggest that SIE retraction (expansion) in the Weddell Sea may contribute to the weakening (strengthening) of the SASH and an early-ending (longer-ending) or drier-ending (wetter-ending) rainy season in tropical South America.

Keywords

• sea ice
• south atlantic aubtropical high
• weddell sea
• south america
• south american monsoon system