Arctic dipole anomaly

The Arctic dipole anomaly is a pressure pattern characterized by high pressure on the arctic regions of North America and low pressure on those of Eurasia.[1] This pattern sometimes replaces the Arctic oscillation and the North Atlantic oscillation.[2] It was observed for the first time in the first decade of 2000s and is perhaps linked to recent climate change.[3] The Arctic dipole lets more southern winds into the Arctic Ocean resulting in more ice melting.[1] The summer 2007 event played an important role in the record low sea ice extent which was recorded in September.[2] The Arctic dipole has also been linked to changes in arctic circulation patterns that cause drier winters in Northern Europe, but much wetter winters in Southern Europe and colder winters in East Asia, Europe and the eastern half of North America.[2]

  1. ^ a b "Rapid ice loss continues through June". Arctic Sea Ice News & Analysis. National Snow and Ice Data Center. 6 July 2010.
  2. ^ a b c Masters, Jeff. "The climate is changing: the Arctic Dipole emerges". Weather Underground. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  3. ^ Zhang, Xiangdong; Asgeir Sorteberg; Zhang Jing; Rüdiger Gerdes; Josefino C. Comiso (18 November 2008). "Recent radical shifts of atmospheric circulations and rapid changes in Arctic climate system". Geophysical Research Letters. 35 (L22701): 7. Bibcode:2008GeoRL..3522701Z. doi:10.1029/2008GL035607. Retrieved 18 November 2010.