Feedbacks between sea ice and baroclinic waves using a linear quasi-geostrophic model

Both the high-latitude atmospheric circulation and the oceanic sea-ice cover exhibit significant synoptic-scale variability. Areas of open water within the ice cover, caused by divergence of the ice, may be generated by convergent, divergent or offshore wind fields. There is a large anomalous upward heat flux over such open water areas, leading to the possibility of complex feedbacks between the ice cover and the baroclinic weather systems that pass over it. The effect of this feedback on the development of baroclinic systems has been investigated in an idealized manner through normal-mode analysis of a system of quasi-geostrophic equations. Results indicate that the growth rate, scale, structure and propagation speed of high-latitude systems may be strongly modified.