The impact of tropical ocean on Arctic climate inferred from analysis of global sea surface temperature

Climate anomalies at high latitudes are largely dependent on the perturbations of sea - ice extent, snow cover over continents, sea surface temperature (SST), as well as predominant atmospheric circulation patterns. Prediction of climate variations in these regions can benefit from understanding the role of the predominant physical factors. The role of large SST anomalies (SSTA) in the tropical ocean has been investigated extensively and linked to the climate in Arctic regions. In this study we report on possible links between (SSTA) in the tropical global ocean and various oceanic regions in the Arctic. We use the NOAA Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST), the data from NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis project and statistical techniques to detect possible tele connections between various parts of the global ocean. We show that SSTA have notable correlations between: 1) Tropical Atlantic and North East Atlantic, impacting climate in Scandinavia; 2) East equatorial Pacific (NINO 3.4 area) and North West Pacific, impacting climate in Alaska; 3) West equatorial Pacific and North Pacific and North Atlantic (impacting climate in Eastern Canada, and Scandinavia), and 4) Tropical Indian Ocean and northern latitudes (with impact on Scandinavian and Canadian climate). Our analysis appears to support and confirm earlier reports based on statistical analysis and GCM simulations, showing a connection between the tropical ocean and climate at higher latitudes.