Michael Garberoglio and Ryan L. Fogt
In recent years, much research has been directed towards Antarctic climate change, with the majority of studies analyzing temperature, and more recently pressure and circulation. Recently, there has been a surge of literature pertaining to variations in pressure systems on and around the continent, with specific attention to the deepening of the Amundsen Sea Low (ASL) over the last century. There has also been preliminary research directed towards teleconnections between Antarctic variability tied to the tropics. Furthering our understanding of pressure variability in Antarctica has thus far proved difficult, with direct observations limited or absent before ~1957. Through the use of several reconstructions and climate model simulations, the scientific community has greatly expanded on a collective understanding of past conditions. To further this understanding, and to apply it to the sensitive, ever-changing conditions of the region, experiments must be conducted to analyze the variation of pressure in and around Antarctica, and what drives these changes. Here, I analyze Antarctic pressure variability over the 20th century from a new spatially complete seasonal Antarctic pressure dataset alongside the Community Atmospheric Model, Version 5 (CAM5), to address how tropical sea surface temperatures variability has impacted Antarctic climate. This poster will include data from both reconstructions and CAM5 to isolate the role of tropical variability on historic Antarctic pressure variability, and to help identify model biases and sensitivities. Understanding why these changes are occurring will not only help our understanding of the major mechanics of Southern Hemisphere climate change, but will also lay the foundation for future work in understanding the total causality of these significant changes in Antarctic climate.
- Indicates paper has been withdrawn from meeting
- Indicates an Award Winner