Surface Conditions and Mean Monthly Temperatures in the Arctic

A large dataset of mean monthly temperatures in the circumpolar Arctic is explored for the winter and spring seasons, revealing locations with very high-temperature persistence. The temperature persistence is related to the Earth´s surface in several ways. A primary factor of persistence is the direct cooling effect of high snow cover or sea-ice extent in the spring, through its impact on albedo and surface fluxes. A secondary effect is through modifications of regional-scale circulations, which can be detected in connection with variability in the sea-ice extent. The data reveals substantial persistence in the mean temperatures, leading to locally high correlation coefficients. A remarkable negative correlation is found between the mid-winter and the spring. This can be related to warm and snowy periods in the winter providing excessive snow into the spring.