Publication Abstracts

Berdahl et al. 2018

Berdahl, M., A. Rennermalm, A. Hammann, J. Mioduszweski, S. Hameed, M. Tedesco, J. Stroeve, T. Mote, T. Koyama, and J.R. McConnell, 2018: Southeast Greenland winter precipitation strongly linked to the Icelandic low position. J. Climate, 31, no. 11, 4483-4500, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-17-0622.1.

Greenland's largest precipitation flux occurs in its southeast (SE) region during the winter, controlled primarily by easterly winds and frequent cyclogenesis in the North Atlantic. Several studies have attempted to link SE Greenland precipitation to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) but results are inconsistent. This work uses reanalysis, automatic weather station data, and regional climate model output to show that the east-west position of the Icelandic low is a better predictor of SE Greenland precipitation (average correlation of r = -0.48 in DJF) than climate indices such as the NAO (r = -0.06 in DJF). In years when the Icelandic low is positioned extremely west, moisture transport increases up to ∼40% (or up to 40 kg/m/s) off the SE Greenland coast compared to when the low is in an extreme east position. Furthermore, in years when the Icelandic low is positioned extremely west, storm track density and intensity increase just off the SE coast of Greenland. Thus, the Icelandic low's longitudinal position dominates SE Greenland ice sheet's wintertime precipitation, a positive term in the ice sheet mass balance. Given SE Greenland's importance in the overall ice sheet mass balance, the position of the Icelandic low is therefore important for making projections of future sea level.

Export citation: [ BibTeX ] [ RIS ]

BibTeX Citation

@article{be05200z,
  author={Berdahl, M. and Rennermalm, A. and Hammann, A. and Mioduszweski, J. and Hameed, S. and Tedesco, M. and Stroeve, J. and Mote, T. and Koyama, T. and McConnell, J. R.},
  title={Southeast Greenland winter precipitation strongly linked to the Icelandic low position},
  year={2018},
  journal={Journal of Climate},
  volume={31},
  number={11},
  pages={4483--4500},
  doi={10.1175/JCLI-D-17-0622.1},
}

[ Close ]

RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - be05200z
AU  - Berdahl, M.
AU  - Rennermalm, A.
AU  - Hammann, A.
AU  - Mioduszweski, J.
AU  - Hameed, S.
AU  - Tedesco, M.
AU  - Stroeve, J.
AU  - Mote, T.
AU  - Koyama, T.
AU  - McConnell, J. R.
PY  - 2018
TI  - Southeast Greenland winter precipitation strongly linked to the Icelandic low position
JA  - J. Climate
JO  - Journal of Climate
VL  - 31
IS  - 11
SP  - 4483
EP  - 4500
DO  - 10.1175/JCLI-D-17-0622.1
ER  -

[ Close ]

• Return to 2018 Publications

• Return to Publications Homepage