ISSN 1006-9895

CN 11-1768/O4

Effects on Inter-hemispheric Air Mass Exchange between the Southern and Northern Hemisphere by Eurasian Spring Snow
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    Abstract:

    The relationship between Eurasian spring snow and the simultaneous and subsequent summer bi-hemispheric air mass exchange are examined using both Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) analysis for springtime snow cover and atmospheric data reanalysis along with general circulation model (GFDL AM2) ensemble simulations. The results can be summarized as follows. Remarkable negative (positive) correlations are revealed between Eurasian spring snow frequency and surface air temperature (columnar air mass) in the Eurasian continent. Following positive anomalous springtime snow, there are statistically significant negative spring surface air temperature (SAT) anomalies over Eurasian mid-and high-latitudes. This cooling effect can be sustained into the subsequent summer, bringing about increasing surface pressure (columnar air mass). Interestingly, with the rising of anomalous hemispherical air mass, such continental-scale cold air piling increases in the Northern Hemisphere but decreases in the Southern Hemisphere. Furthermore, both Eurasian spring snow cover index and time series of the first SVD mode of snow frequency display significant positive correlation with inter-hemispheric air mass oscillations (IHO). The correlation coefficients are 0.391 and 0.393, respectively. This associated bi-hemispheric imbalanced air mass is statistically correlated to cross-equator fluxes in the Eastern Hemisphere in both spring and summer, including the Somali Jet and the upper level jet stream from 80°E to 120°E. Our ensemble GCM simulations show that the notable response of surface general circulation displays over Eurasian mid-high latitudes forced by different initial snow mass conditions in spring. When snow mass increases in Eurasia, continental negative SATs are observed in spring and summer, thereby giving rise to increases in large-scale air masses.

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History
  • Received:October 19,2013
  • Revised:May 16,2014
  • Adopted:
  • Online: November 07,2014
  • Published: