The influence of the stratospheric and tropospheric polar vortices on the Barents Sea ice extent during winter 1997/1998 and 2015/2016
A temperature decrease occurs inside the tropospheric polar vortex during winter, which is reflected in an increase in the Arctic sea ice extent. However, the Barents Sea often turns out to be at the tropospheric vortex edge in winter, where the surface temperature is higher, which leads to a decrease in sea ice extent. Based on the ERA-Interim reanalysis data and the NSIDC satellite data, we show that the Barents Sea ice extent depends on the shape and location of the tropospheric polar vortex from December to February. Based on the example of the polar vortex dynamics in 1997/1998 and 2015/2016 and using the correlation analysis, we show that the tropospheric polar vortex edge can repeat the shape and location of the stratospheric vortex from December to March. Thus, Arctic sea ice loss as a result of a change in the tropospheric vortex edge can occur under the influence of the stratospheric polar vortex in winter.