The Varied Role of Atmospheric Rivers in Arctic Snow Depth Variations

Abstract

Abstract The state and fate of snow on sea ice are crucial in the mass and energy balance of sea ice. The function of atmospheric rivers (ARs) on snow depth over sea ice has not been measured thus far, limiting the understanding of the mechanism of snow depth changes. Here, the effect of ARs on snow depth changes was explored. We found that increased AR frequency is responsible for winter‐autumn snow accumulation and spring‐summer snow melting. The 2 m air temperature (T2m), rainfall, snowfall, mean net longwave radiation (NLR), mean net shortwave radiation (NSR) and cloud radiative effect (CRE) during ARs explain the changes in snow depth triggered by AR occurrence. This work helps us understand how ARs affect snow depth changes through related physical processes, promotes an understanding of climate systems and provides a theoretical basis for snow treatment in sea ice models.

Keywords

• snow depth
• Arctic sea ice
• atmospheric rivers
• spatiotemporal variations
• contribution
• physical processes