Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3709
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3709
13 Jan 2025
 | 13 Jan 2025

Lagrangian single-column modeling of Arctic airmass transformation during HALO-(𝒜𝒞)3

Michail Karalis, Gunilla Svensson, Manfred Wendisch, and Michael Tjernström

Abstract. In Arctic warm-air intrusions (WAIs), airmasses undergo a series of radiative, turbulent, cloud and precipitation processes, the sum of which constitutes the airmass transformation. During the Arctic airmass transformation, heat and moisture is transferred from the airmass to the Arctic environment, melting the sea-ice and potentially reinforcing feedback mechanisms responsible for the amplified Arctic warming. We tackle this complex, poorly understood phenomenon from a Lagrangian perspective, using the WAI event on 12–14 March captured by the 2022 HALO-(𝒜𝒞)3 campaign. Our trajectory analysis of the event suggests that the intruding airmass can be treated as an undistorted air column, therefore justifying the use of a single-column model. In this study, we test this hypothesis using the Atmosphere-Ocean Single-Column Model (AOSCM). The rates of heat and moisture depletion vary along the advection path due to the changing surface properties and large-scale vertical motion. The ability of the Lagrangian AOSCM framework to emulate elements of the airmass transformation seen in aircraft observations, ERA5 reanalysis and operational forecast data, makes it an attractive tool for future model analysis and diagnostics development. Our findings can benefit the understanding of the timescales and driving mechanisms of Arctic airmass transformation and help determine the contribution of WAIs in Arctic Amplification.

Competing interests: At least one of the (co-)authors is a member of the editorial board of Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.

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 paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
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Michail Karalis, Gunilla Svensson, Manfred Wendisch, and Michael Tjernström

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3709', Anonymous Referee #1, 06 Apr 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Michail Karalis, 23 Jul 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3709', Anonymous Referee #2, 31 May 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Michail Karalis, 23 Jul 2025
  • RC3: 'Review of “Lagrangian single-column modeling of Arctic airmass transformation during HALO-(AC)3” submitted to Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss. by Karalis et al.', Anonymous Referee #3, 13 Jun 2025
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Michail Karalis, 23 Jul 2025

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3709', Anonymous Referee #1, 06 Apr 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Michail Karalis, 23 Jul 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3709', Anonymous Referee #2, 31 May 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Michail Karalis, 23 Jul 2025
  • RC3: 'Review of “Lagrangian single-column modeling of Arctic airmass transformation during HALO-(AC)3” submitted to Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss. by Karalis et al.', Anonymous Referee #3, 13 Jun 2025
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Michail Karalis, 23 Jul 2025
Michail Karalis, Gunilla Svensson, Manfred Wendisch, and Michael Tjernström
Michail Karalis, Gunilla Svensson, Manfred Wendisch, and Michael Tjernström

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Short summary
During the spring Arctic warm-air intrusion captured by HALO-(𝒜𝒞)3, the airmass demonstrated a column-like structure. We built a Lagrangian modeling framework using a single-column model (AOSCM) to simulate the airmass transformation. Comparing to observations, reanalysis and forecast data, we found that the AOSCM can successfully reproduce the main features of the transformation. The framework can be used for future model development to improve Arctic weather and climate prediction.
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