Seasonal Changes in Atmospheric Heat Transport to the Arctic Under Increased CO2

Arctic warming under increased CO2 peaks in winter, but is influenced by summer forcing via seasonal ocean heat storage. Yet changes in atmospheric heat transport into the Arctic have mainly been investigated in the annual mean or winter, with limited focus on other seasons. We investigate the full seasonal cycle of poleward heat transport modeled with increased CO2 or with individually applied Arctic sea-ice loss and global sea-surface warming. We find that a winter reduction in dry heat transport is driven by Arctic sea-ice loss and warming, while a summer increase in moist heat transport is driven by sub-Arctic warming and moistening. Intermodel spread in Arctic warming controls spread in seasonal poleward heat transport. These seasonal changes and their intermodel spread are well-captured by down-gradient diffusive heat transport. While changes in moist and dry heat transport compensate in the annual-mean, their opposite seasonality may support non-compensating effects on Arctic warming.

Automated summary

Arctic warming is influenced by both winter CO2 peaks and summer forcing through seasonal ocean heat storage. Winter dry heat transport reduction is driven by Arctic sea-ice loss and warming, while summer moist heat transport increase is driven by sub-Arctic warming and moistening. Intermodel spread in Arctic warming controls the spread in seasonal poleward heat transport.