Abstract
AbstractWe analyse data series (1992–2013) of wind measurements from meteorological stations in Ny‐Ålesund and Hornsund on Svalbard and then have them compared to surface layer winds from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis. We find significant discrepancies between the local wind direction and directions of wind compatible with the analysis of large‐scale pressure fields. We argue that one of the most important factors controlling wind directions in the Svalbard fjords is the difference in temperature between the neighbouring glaciers and surface sea temperatures of open waters warmed by the west Spitsbergen current. This creates atmospheric circulation patterns similar to the land breeze in temperate climates. We show that the frequency of simultaneous breeze‐type circulation events on the northern and southern fjords of Spitsbergen is highly correlated with sea–land temperature difference on monthly timescales. A Monte Carlo analysis of breeze probabilities rejects the null hypothesis of independent breeze events in both fjords. This result shows that breeze events are not independent where two fjords placed at opposite ends of Spitsbergen's west coast are concerned, and we also posit that the breeze occurrence is largely controlled by the synoptic situation. Such large‐scale wind phenomena should have an impact on air–sea heat fluxes to the east of Spitsbergen.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.