Significant Contribution of Severe Ozone Loss to the Siberian‐Arctic Surface Warming in Spring 2020. Issue 8 (26th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xia, Yan; Hu, Yongyun; Huang, Yi; Zhao, Chuanfeng; Xie, Fei; Yang, Yikun
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 48:Issue 8(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-04-26
• Subjects: Arctic warming -- cloud radiative effect -- ice‐albedo feedback -- stratospheric ozone -- the Siberian Arctic; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2021GL092509
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: Severe ozone loss and significant surface warming anomalies in the Siberian Arctic were observed in spring 2020. Here, we show that the anomalous surface warming was likely related to the ozone loss. The dramatic Arctic ozone loss in March was shifted to Siberia in April and May, which largely cools the lower stratosphere and leads to an increase of high clouds by modifying the static stability in the upper troposphere. This further results in an increase of longwave radiation at surface which likely contributes to surface warming. Multiple linear regression demonstrates that ozone loss contributes most of the surface warming in April, while the Arctic Oscillation and ice‐albedo feedback play a minor role. In May, both ozone loss and ice‐albedo feedback contribute to the surface warming. These results support that surface warming in the Siberian Arctic could occur in April and May when severe ozone loss occurs in March. Plain Language Summary: Anomalous surface warming in the Siberian Arctic was observed in spring 2020. The key question is what caused the surface warming. Here, we show that this surface warming in the Siberian Arctic is likely caused by the local severe ozone loss, along with the ice‐albedo feedback. The reduction of stratospheric ozone leads to lower stratospheric cooling and a decrease in the static stability in the upper troposphere, which results in an increase in high clouds. It consequently causes an increase of surface longwave radiation and enhanced surface warming in April and May. The ice‐albedo feedback further amplifies surface warming. Key Points: Both severe ozone loss and surface warming over the Siberian Arctic were observed in the spring of 2020 The ozone loss in the Siberian Arctic may contribute to the most of the surface warming in April by modifying the cloud radiative effects Ice‐albedo feedback further amplifies the surface warming in April and May