A Cyclone-Centered Perspective on the Drivers of Asymmetric Patterns in the Atmosphere and Sea Ice during Arctic Cyclones

Arctic cyclones are an extremely common, year-round phenomenon, with substantial influence on sea ice. However, few studies address the heterogeneity in the spatial patterns in the atmosphere and sea ice during Arctic cyclones. We investigate these spatial patterns by compositing on cyclones from 1985 to 2016 using a novel, cyclone-centered approach that reveals conditions as functions of bearing and distance from cyclone centers. An axisymmetric, cold-core model for the structure of Arctic cyclones has previously been proposed; however, we show that the structure of Arctic cyclones is comparable to those in the midlatitudes, with cyclonic surface winds, a warm, moist sector to the east of cyclones and a cold, dry sector to the west. There is no consensus on the impact of Arctic cyclones on sea ice, as some studies have shown that Arctic cyclones lead to sea ice growth and others to sea ice loss. Instead, we find that sea ice decreases to the east of Arctic cyclones and increases to the west, with the greatest changes occurring in the marginal ice zone. Using a sea ice model forced with prescribed atmospheric reanalysis, we reveal the relative importance of the dynamic and thermodynamic forcing of Arctic cyclones on sea ice. The dynamic and thermodynamic responses of sea ice concentration to cyclones are comparable in magnitude; however, dynamic processes dominate the response of sea ice thickness and are the primary driver of the east- west difference in the sea ice response to cyclones.

Automated summary

This study investigates the spatial patterns of atmosphere and sea ice during Arctic cyclones using a novel cyclone-centered approach. The results suggest that the structure of Arctic cyclones is similar to those in the midlatitudes and their impact on sea ice is heterogeneous. The dynamic processes are found to be the primary driver of sea ice response to cyclones.