Antarctic sea-ice extent, Southern hemisphere circulation and South African rainfall

The study examines the response of an atmospheric general circulation model (OCM) to a reduction in Antarctic sea-ice extent during summer and winter, with emphasis on non-polar and southern African climates. Following an evaluation of the OCM, the control and perturbation simulations are analysed. The controls are forced by prescribed, observed sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and sea-ice extents, while in the perturbation simulations sea-ice is reduced and replaced with SSTs. The introduced anomalies are derived from an algorithm based on observed ice variability. The simulations are restarts of an AMIP (Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project) configured simulation, and two summers (1979/80 and 1984185) and two winters (1980 and 1985) have been selected for the study. Three replicates have been performed for each time period for both the control and perturbation conditions.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Environmental and Geographical Science

Year dc:date.issued

1998

Author dc:creator

• Hudson, Debra Alison

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hewitson, Bruce

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9682

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/9682