Equator-to-pole temperatures and zonal wind structures in idealized aquaplanet climate studies

Fully coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation modeling studies using idealized water-covered aquaplanet produce different polar climates: ice-free climates with reduced equator-to-pole temperature gradients in some studies and extensive sea ice with larger gradients in other studies. In addition, different zonal surface wind structures are simulated, depending on polar surface temperatures. Polar easterlies are present when there is no sea ice, while they are absent when there is sea ice. Our focus of this study is to explain these results.