Pioneering new research from the University of Exeter, UK, has revealed when the 11-year solar cycle is in its ‘weaker’ phase, there are warm spells across the Arctic in winter, as well as heavy snowfall across Eurasia.
Periods of extreme cold winter weather and perilous snowfall could be linked to the solar cycle. Image credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
Dr. Indrani Roy, a researcher at the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences at the University of Exeter, evaluated the impact of the 11-year solar cycle — measured in terms of solar sunspot number (SSN) — as a driving factor to modulate Arctic and surrounding climate.
“We explored how the solar cycle — a periodic change in the Sun’s activity including changes in the levels of solar UV radiation and changes in the SSNs — can be linked with the Polar vortex and Arctic Oscillation phenomenon, which affects winter Arctic and Eurasian climate,” Dr. Roy explained.
“It subsequently can influence weather conditions in Europe, including the UK, Scandinavia and Asia,” she said.
The study observed that during periods when the winter SSN falls below average, the Arctic warming extends from the lower troposphere to high up in the upper stratosphere.
On the other hand there is a cooling when SSN is above average.
“In spite of all other influences and complexities, it is still possible to segregate a strong influence from the Sun,” Dr. Roy noted.
“There are reductions of sea-ice in the Arctic and a growth in the Eurasian sector is observed in recent winters.”
“This study shows those trends are related and current weaker solar cycle is contributing to that.”
The study was published online March 20, 2018 in the journal Scientific Reports.
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Indrani Roy. 2018. Solar cyclic variability can modulate winter Arctic climate. Scientific Reports 8, article number: 4864; doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-22854-0
