Ukrainian Antarctic Journal

No 3 (2005): Ukrainian Antarctic Journal
Articles

Climatic indices of the Southern Hemisphere and their relation to tropospheric circulation

V. E. Timofeyev
Odessa State Environmental University, Odessa
Published December 15, 2005
Keywords
  • climatic indices,
  • south annular mode,
  • pressure wave,
  • El Nino - Southern Oscillation
How to Cite
Timofeyev, V. E. (2005). Climatic indices of the Southern Hemisphere and their relation to tropospheric circulation. Ukrainian Antarctic Journal, (3), 85-92. https://doi.org/10.33275/1727-7485.3.2005.572

Abstract

Climatic indices of the Southern Hemisphere are described using data of the World Data Center (Moscow) and Reanalysis data. Using of the Southern Annular mode (SAM) for simulation of Antarctic climate and tropospheric circulation is discussed. It is concluded that hemispherical SAM describes only common aspects of climate change as well as reflects general properties of tropospheric circulation. Calculation of local indices is needed to describe peculiarities of regional circulation. Synoptic analysis of anticyclonic process brought in cold winter spells to the Antarctic Peninsula region is made. It is shown that anticyclones can be omitted or underestimated when analyzing SAM. Important changes in the multi-years’ course of parameters of the semi-annual pressure wave are found by the data of Vernadsky base: smoothing of summer pressure peak and displacement of winter minimum. These changes are attributed to regional warming at the Antarctic Peninsula region. El-Nino phenomenon  impacts on regional tropospheric circulation and weather conditions at Antarctic Peninsula region are discussed. ENSO influence on weather conditions at Antarctic Peninsula tends to be maximized in years with different ENSO episodes, when pools of alternative anomalies of barometric pressure are formed in extratropical regions of the South Hemisphere. Winter air temperature anomalies at Antarctic Peninsula are caused by more frequent anticyclogenesis in years after cold ENSO episode, with intensive blocking in mid - and polar-latitudes. It was concluded that stabilization of warming at the Antarctic Peninsula during the recent years occurred at the background of prolongated ENSO events.

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