Basin-dependent response of Northern Hemisphere winter blocking frequency to CO2 removal

Jaeyoung Hwang, Seok Woo Son, Patrick Martineau, Mi Kyung Sung, David Barriopedro, Soon Il An, Sang Wook Yeh, Seung Ki Min, Jong Seong Kug, Jongsoo Shin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Atmospheric blocking has been identified as one of the key elements of the extratropical atmospheric variabilities, controlling extreme weather events in mid-latitudes. Future projections indicate that Northern Hemisphere winter blocking frequency may decrease as CO2 concentrations increase. Here, we show that such changes may not be reversed when CO2 concentrations return to the current levels. Blocking frequency instead exhibits basin-dependent changes in response to CO2 removal. While the North Atlantic blocking frequency recovers gradually from the CO2-induced eastward shift, the North Pacific blocking frequency under the CO2 removal remains lower than its initial state. These basin-dependent blocking frequency changes result from background flow changes and their interactions with high-frequency eddies. Both high-frequency eddy and background flow changes determine North Atlantic blocking changes, whereas high-frequency eddy changes dominate the slow recovery of North Pacific blocking. Our results indicate that blocking-related extreme events in the Northern Hemisphere winter may not monotonically respond to CO2 removal.

Original languageEnglish
Article number111
Journalnpj Climate and Atmospheric Science
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024 Dec

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Global and Planetary Change
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Atmospheric Science

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