Feedbacks between sea ice and baroclinic waves using a linear quasi-geostrophic model

Both the high-latitude atmospheric circulation and the oceanic sea-ice cove r exhibit significant synoptic-scale variability. Areas of open water withi n the ice cover, caused by divergence of the ice, may be generated by conve rgent, divergent or offshore wind fields. There is a large anomalous upward heat flux over such open water areas, leading to the possibility of comple x feedbacks between the ice cover and the baroclinic weather systems that p ass over it. The effect of this feedback on the development of baroclinic s ystems has been investigated in an idealized manner through normal-mode ana lysis of a system of quasi-geostrophic equations. Results indicate that the growth rate, scale, structure and propagation speed of high-latitude syste ms may be strongly modified.