The Arctic Teleconnections

Abstract

The Arctic Region is warming at an alarming rate due to snow/ice-temperature feedback as a result of increase in greenhouse gases and other anthropogenic activities. Due to the Arctic amplification of warming, the Arctic sea ice here is melting at a faster rate of about 0.67 million km² per decade. Past observational data suggest that the Indian Monsoon variability is linked to the Arctic Sea ice variability. In fact, about 10% of Indian monsoon variability is explained by Arctic Sea Ice. Further, the effect of sea ice decline has implications in changes of large scale circulation of mid-latitudes, for example a southward shift of Sub-tropical westerly Jet Stream, and occurrence of extreme weather events over Europe and Asia. The abnormal heavy rainfall spell during March 2015 over the northern parts of India could be linked to the Arctic sea ice melting and associated changes in mid-latitude circulation. The analyses of Arctic Circulation anomalies have revealed that the Arctic Oscillation (opposing pattern of pressure between the Arctic and the northern middle latitudes) and the Indian Monsoon are inter-linked. An interesting twist in the relationship between the Arctic and Indian monsoon, has been observed as a result of the recent studies, which shows that abnormal convection over the northwest India could influence Arctic sea ice melting through mid-latitude circulation anomalies and wave-guide.