Arctic Oscillation | Surface Temperatures | Stratospheric Temperatures | Clouds | Ocean

Clouds are important to the Arctic climate because they trap warm temperatures and reflect sunlight in spring and summer. There has been a nearly linear increase in the cloud cover over the central Arctic in the previous two decades. The linear trend of the time series and the western Arctic location of the major changes contrasts with the regime-like variation of the Arctic Oscillation. The difference between the linear trend of clouds and the behavior of the Arctic Oscillation highlights present uncertainties in understanding Arctic climate.

Time series of seasonally averaged cloud fraction over the arctic seas in spring (March, April, May). Provided by Axel J. Schweiger.	Spatial distribution of trends in cloud cover over twenty years. Provided by Axel J. Schweiger.

Find more information (references and websites):

• Schweiger, A.J. (2004) Changes in seasonal cloud cover over the Arctic seas from satellite and surface observations, Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 31, L2207, doi:10.1029/2004GL020067, 2004.