The unique characteristics of the Arctic climate, such as the intense reflection of sunlight by light snow and the sun’s low angle, intensify global warming in the region. Nonetheless, scientists frequently encounter difficulties when trying to model the climatic processes involved, which are essential for providing accurate weather predictions. Researchers from the HALO (AC)³ aircraft initiative have achieved noteworthy success in accurately tracking the flow of air masses to and from the Arctic. This advancement will enhance understanding of the various factors that accelerate climate change in this sensitive area. Their findings are documented in a paper published by the European Geosciences Union.
“Our goal is to make significant and innovative strides in our comprehension of Arctic amplification and to improve the accuracy of models used for predicting the intense warming occurring in the Arctic,” explains Professor Manfred Wendisch, the Director of the Institute for Meteorology at Leipzig University and the chief author of the research. The extensive international study, HALO (AC)³, commenced its exploration of changes in Arctic air masses in mid-March 2022. Researchers from Leipzig University, alongside various other institutions, participated in this effort.
Throughout the campaign, specialized aircraft were employed to investigate how air masses travel to and from the Arctic, analyzing northward intrusions of moist and warm air (WAIs) as well as southward outbursts of cold marine air (CAOs). Whenever feasible, two low-flying aircraft and one long-range high-altitude research plane operated in close formation. “We examined the transformation of air masses over regions of open ocean, areas surrounding sea ice, and the central Arctic sea ice,” according to Wendisch.
The HALO AC³ aircraft campaign took place over the Norwegian and Greenland Seas, the Fram Strait, and the central Arctic Ocean during March and April 2022. An innovative observation strategy was employed to monitor the alterations in air masses. This allowed researchers to measure the air parcels as they traveled, documenting their journey twice along the transport path. The meteorologist elaborates, “This enabled us to quantify the warming and cooling of the air masses for the very first time. For instance, we’ve demonstrated that cold air escaping from the Arctic and moving southward can warm by as much as three degrees Celsius per hour as it transitions from sea ice to open water. Additionally, the moisture content of the air increases as it travels southward.” The researchers also investigated how cloud characteristics changed during the transport of air masses. This remarkable data is currently being compared to predictions from the German weather forecasting model.
