Volcanic activity sparks the Arctic Oscillation

Weizheng Qu; Fei Huang; Jinping Zhao; Ling Du; Yong Cao

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-94935-6

Volcanic activity sparks the Arctic Oscillation

Sci Rep. 2021 Aug 4;11(1):15839. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-94935-6.

Authors

Weizheng Qu¹, Fei Huang^{2

3}, Jinping Zhao^{2

3}, Ling Du^{2

3}, Yong Cao²

Affiliations

¹ College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China. qwzheng123@163.com.
² College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China.
³ Physical Oceanography Laboratory/Institute of Advanced Ocean Study, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China.

Abstract

The parasol effect of volcanic dust and aerosol caused by volcanic eruption results in the deepening and strengthening of the Arctic vortex system, thus stimulating or strengthening the Arctic Oscillation (AO). Three of the strongest AOs in more than a century have been linked to volcanic eruptions. Every significant fluctuation of the AO index (AOI = ΔH_middle latitudes - ΔH_Arctic) for many years has been associated with a volcanic eruption. Volcanic activity occurring at different locations in the Arctic vortex circulation will exert different effects on the polar vortex.