Subseasonal transition of Barents–Kara sea-ice anomalies in winter related to the reversed warm Arctic–cold Eurasia pattern

Abstract

Subseasonal reversal of the warm Arctic–cold Eurasia pattern (WACE) could trigger an extreme cold/warm transition in winter and sandstorms in spring over eastern China. An associated subseasonal transition of the sea-ice anomaly also occurs in the Barents–Kara seas (BKS) driven by such remarkable high-latitude atmospheric pattern reversals. Under a warm Arctic and enhanced Ural high, abnormal downward turbulent heat flux and increased downward infrared radiation in the BKS are conducive to sea ice melting. The surface southerly wind drives the sea ice to drift from the thin to perennial ice area and further enlarges the open ocean surface. The opposite mechanism occurs in the opposite phase of WACE, causing positive BKS sea-ice anomalies. When WACE reverses on the subseasonal scale, the above mechanisms occur in early and late winter, respectively, resulting in a significant subseasonal transition of BKS sea-ice anomalies. More importantly, in the last decade, with a more frequent reversal of WACE, the subseasonal transition between early winter and late winter in BKS sea ice has enhanced. The findings of this study establish a comprehensive schematic of the subseasonal reversal of WACE and contribute to better understanding and predicting extreme climate in eastern China.