Topography Dominates the Hemispheric Asymmetry of Stratospheric Sudden Warmings

Abstract

Stratospheric sudden warmings (SSWs) predominantly occur in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) with only 1 major event recorded in the Southern Hemisphere in the satellite era. Investigating factors that contribute to this asymmetry can help to reveal the cause of SSWs and lead to improved forecasts. Here we use climate model simulations to investigate the impact of boundary conditions (topography and ocean circulation) on the hemispheric asymmetry. Flattening topography eliminates NH SSWs, while removing the ocean meridional overturning circulation reduces their frequency by half. The SSW response to boundary conditions is controlled by the hemispheric asymmetry of eddy heat flux. The reduction is driven by a decrease in amplitude of both eddy meridional wind and eddy temperature, as well as an increase in the cosine of the difference between their phases. The results suggest boundary conditions play an important role in shaping SSWs, especially topographic forcing, but that the boundary condition interactions are nonlinear.