Geoscience Letters (Aug 2024)

Surface air temperature anomalies over Antarctica and the Southern ocean induced by interactions between the interdecadal Pacific oscillation and Atlantic multidecadal oscillation

  • Lejiang Yu,
  • Shiyuan Zhong,
  • Cuijuan Sui,
  • Bo Sun

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40562-024-00352-8
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Previous research has explored the impact of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) on Antarctic surface air temperature (SAT) variability. However, a notable gap remains in our comprehension concerning the response of Antarctic SAT to the four phase combinations of IPO and AMO. In this study, we unveil unique patterns of Antarctic SAT anomalies during four distinct sub-periods based on the phases of IPO and AMO. Notably, Antarctic SAT anomalies exhibit a considerable seasonality, with the most pronounced (weakest) anomalies occurring during the austral winter (summer), a phenomenon consistent across all four sub-periods. These different anomalous SST patterns trigger varying convective rainfall patterns, consequently initiating distinct wavetrains that propagate into the Southern Ocean. These different wavetrains, in turn, induce variations in sea level pressure and surface wind fields, resulting in different Antarctic SAT anomalies primarily through mechanisms related to horizontal thermal advection and downward longwave radiation.