Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Influence of the Arctic Circumpolar Vortex on the Mass Balance of Canadian High Arctic Glaciers

Alex S. Gardner Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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Martin Sharp Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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Print Publication:
15 Sep 2007
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI4268.1
Page(s):
4586–4598
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Abstract

Variability in July mean surface air temperatures from 1963 to 2003 accounted for 62% of the variance in the regional annual glacier mass balance signal for the Canadian High Arctic. A regime shift to more negative regional glacier mass balance occurred between 1986 and 1987, and is linked to a coincident shift from lower to higher mean July air temperatures. Both the interannual changes and the regime shifts in regional glacier mass balance and July air temperatures are related to variations in the position and strength of the July circumpolar vortex. In years when the July vortex is “strong” and its center is located in the Western Hemisphere, positive mass balance anomalies prevail. In contrast, highly negative mass balance anomalies occur when the July circumpolar vortex is either weak or strong without elongation over the Canadian High Arctic, and its center is located in the Eastern Hemisphere. The occurrence of westerly positioned July vortices has decreased by 40% since 1987. The associated shift to a dominantly easterly positioned July vortex was associated with an increased frequency of tropospheric ridging over the Canadian High Arctic, higher surface air temperatures, and more negative regional glacier mass balance.

Corresponding author address: Alex Gardner, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-16B Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E3, Canada. Email: alexg@ualberta.ca

Abstract

Variability in July mean surface air temperatures from 1963 to 2003 accounted for 62% of the variance in the regional annual glacier mass balance signal for the Canadian High Arctic. A regime shift to more negative regional glacier mass balance occurred between 1986 and 1987, and is linked to a coincident shift from lower to higher mean July air temperatures. Both the interannual changes and the regime shifts in regional glacier mass balance and July air temperatures are related to variations in the position and strength of the July circumpolar vortex. In years when the July vortex is “strong” and its center is located in the Western Hemisphere, positive mass balance anomalies prevail. In contrast, highly negative mass balance anomalies occur when the July circumpolar vortex is either weak or strong without elongation over the Canadian High Arctic, and its center is located in the Eastern Hemisphere. The occurrence of westerly positioned July vortices has decreased by 40% since 1987. The associated shift to a dominantly easterly positioned July vortex was associated with an increased frequency of tropospheric ridging over the Canadian High Arctic, higher surface air temperatures, and more negative regional glacier mass balance.

Corresponding author address: Alex Gardner, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-16B Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E3, Canada. Email: alexg@ualberta.ca

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