Substantial Weakening of Indian Summer Monsoon Synoptic Activity in Response to Polar Sea Ice Melt | CU Experts

The effect of polar sea ice melt on low latitude climate is little; known. In order to understand the response of Indian summer monsoon; (ISM) to the sea ice melt, we have run a suite of coupled and uncoupled; climate model simulations. In one set of simulations, the albedo of sea; ice is changed in such a way that it would melt as a result of increased; absorption of solar radiation. We find a substantial weakening of ISM in; sea ice melt experiments. Further, the genesis frequency of monsoon; low-pressure systems (LPS) declines by about 40% in the sea ice melt; simulations. A weakening and equatorward shift of ITCZ causes the; decline in LPS genesis. Overall, the response of ISM to the sea ice melt; resembles the response to greenhouse gas induced warming.

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