Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1302
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1302
21 May 2024
 | 21 May 2024

Long-lasting high-latitude volcanic eruptions as a trigger for sudden stratospheric warmings: An idealized model experiment

Hera Guðlaugsdóttir, Yannick Peings, Davide Zanchettin, and Guðrún Magnúsdóttir

Abstract. The temporary enhancement of the stratospheric aerosol layer after major explosive volcanic eruptions can trigger climate anomalies beyond the duration of the radiative forcing. Whereas the mechanisms responsible for long-lasting response to volcanic forcing have been extensively investigated for tropical eruptions, less is known about the dynamical response to high-latitude eruptions. Here we use global climate model simulations of an idealized long-lasting (6 months) northern hemisphere high-latitude eruption to investigate the climate response during the first three post-eruption winters, focusing on the dynamics governing the stratospheric polar vortex. Our results reveal that two competing mechanisms contribute to determining the post-eruption evolution of the polar vortex: 1) A local stratospheric mechanism whereby increased absorption of thermal radiation by the enhanced aerosol layer yields a polar vortex strengthening via a thermal wind response. 2) A bottom-up mechanism whereby surface cooling yields an increase in atmospheric wave activity that propagates into the winter stratosphere, leading to a weakening of the polar vortex, also seen as an increased occurrence of sudden stratospheric warming events (SSWs). The local stratospheric mechanism dominates in the first post-eruption winter, while the bottom-up mechanism dominates in the follow-up winters. The identification of a deterministic response such as increased SSWs following high-latitude volcanic eruptions calls for increased attention to these events as an important source of interannual variability and a possible source of increased seasonal predictability of northern hemisphere regional climates.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Share

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

09 Apr 2025
Stratospheric circulation response to large Northern Hemisphere high-latitude volcanic eruptions in a global climate model
Hera Guðlaugsdóttir, Yannick Peings, Davide Zanchettin, and Gudrun Magnusdottir
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3961–3980, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3961-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3961-2025, 2025
Short summary
Hera Guðlaugsdóttir, Yannick Peings, Davide Zanchettin, and Guðrún Magnúsdóttir

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1302', Anonymous Referee #1, 23 Jun 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1302', Anonymous Referee #2, 02 Jul 2024

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1302', Anonymous Referee #1, 23 Jun 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1302', Anonymous Referee #2, 02 Jul 2024

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Hera Guðlaugsdóttir on behalf of the Authors (14 Oct 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (16 Oct 2024) by Kevin Grise
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (25 Oct 2024)
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (01 Nov 2024)
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (04 Nov 2024) by Kevin Grise
AR by Hera Guðlaugsdóttir on behalf of the Authors (29 Nov 2024)  Author's response 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (03 Dec 2024) by Kevin Grise
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (17 Dec 2024)
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (19 Dec 2024)
EF by Vitaly Muravyev (04 Dec 2024)  Manuscript   Author's tracked changes 
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (20 Dec 2024) by Kevin Grise
AR by Hera Guðlaugsdóttir on behalf of the Authors (13 Jan 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (15 Jan 2025) by Kevin Grise
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (27 Jan 2025)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (03 Feb 2025) by Kevin Grise
AR by Hera Guðlaugsdóttir on behalf of the Authors (03 Feb 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (08 Feb 2025) by Kevin Grise
AR by Hera Guðlaugsdóttir on behalf of the Authors (11 Feb 2025)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

09 Apr 2025
Stratospheric circulation response to large Northern Hemisphere high-latitude volcanic eruptions in a global climate model
Hera Guðlaugsdóttir, Yannick Peings, Davide Zanchettin, and Gudrun Magnusdottir
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3961–3980, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3961-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3961-2025, 2025
Short summary
Hera Guðlaugsdóttir, Yannick Peings, Davide Zanchettin, and Guðrún Magnúsdóttir
Hera Guðlaugsdóttir, Yannick Peings, Davide Zanchettin, and Guðrún Magnúsdóttir

Viewed

Total article views: 605 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
446 124 35 605 40 33 35
  • HTML: 446
  • PDF: 124
  • XML: 35
  • Total: 605
  • Supplement: 40
  • BibTeX: 33
  • EndNote: 35
Views and downloads (calculated since 21 May 2024)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 21 May 2024)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 585 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 585 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 09 Apr 2025
Download

The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
Here we use an Earth System Model to simulate a long-lasting volcanic eruption at 65° N to assess its climate effects. We show a Polar Vortex strengthening in winter 1 and a weakening in winters 2–3 due to surface cooling that further causes an increase in sudden stratospheric warmings. This can cause severe cold weather events in the northern hemisphere. Our motivation is to understand how such eruptions impact the climate system for improving decadal climate predictability.
Share