Session Topics for Polar Amplification of Climate Change Across Hemispheres and Seasons: Causes and Constraints Workshop

Session Topics

Causes of Polar Amplification

This session explores the causes of polar amplification, its seasonal expression, and hemispheric differences. We welcome submissions that elucidate the processes that contribute to these features of polar amplification, including discussions on the relative roles of different climate forcings and feedback processes.
 

Role of Atmospheric and Oceanic Transport in Polar Amplification

This session explores the dynamics and impacts of energy transports into the polar regions, as well as their interactions with local feedback processes. We welcome submissions on the influence of dry and moist atmospheric energy transport, ocean heat transport, and episodic/synoptic phenomena (e.g., moisture intrusions, atmospheric rivers, and polar cyclones) on polar amplification.
 

Observed and Projected Polar Amplification

Over the last 40 years, our ability to observe the Earth’s polar regions has advanced dramatically, allowing us to track the rapidly warming surface temperature, the precipitous decline of Arctic sea ice, and the more gradual changes in the Antarctic. This session explores  the observed changes in the polar climate systems and the fidelity with which contemporary climate models represent these changes. We welcome submissions that address observed polar climate trends, model projections and biases, sources of model uncertainty, model diagnostic approaches (shortcomings and opportunities), and emergent constraints using present-day observations and/or paleoclimatic proxies.

Drivers of Observed Sea Ice Trends and Variability

Over the satellite record there have been substantial changes in the sea ice cover in both hemispheres. The Arctic has experienced a significant and continuous decline in sea ice extent, while the Antarctic has experienced a small but significant overall increase until 2015, followed by substantial variability. This session explores the causes of the sea ice variability and trends in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, with an emphasis on recent extremes such as the rapid decline in Antarctic sea ice observed in 2023. We welcome submissions that shed light on the drivers and mechanisms of observed sea ice trends and variability from observational, modeling, and theoretical perspectives.

Non-Local Effects of Polar Amplification

This session explores the non-local effects of polar amplification and sea ice changes, including their influence on mid-latitude or tropical atmospheric dynamics, ocean circulation, global sea-surface temperature patterns, global energy flows, and global warming. We welcome studies that shed light on these features and their mechanisms from observational, modeling, and theoretical perspectives.