Impact of Cyclonic Wind Anomalies Caused by Massive Winter Sea Ice Retreat in the Barents Sea on Atlantic Water Transport Toward the Arctic: A Model Study

Abstract The Arctic is warming much faster than the global average. This known as Amplification and caused by feedbacks in local climate system. In this study, we explore a previously proposed hypothesis that an associated wind feedback Barents Sea could play important role increasing warm water inflow into Sea. We find strong recent decrease winter sea ice cover causes enhanced ocean‐atmosphere heat flux air temperature increase, thus reduction level pressure cyclonic anomaly with eastward winds Opening. By investigating various reanalysis products performing high‐resolution perturbation experiments ocean model FESOM2.1, studied impact of atmospheric circulation changes on Atlantic Water import via Fram Strait. found observed do not significantly affect transport Sea, which rejects wind‐feedback hypothesis. At same time, anomalies increase amount recirculating westwards Strait downslope shift West Spitsbergen Current, reduce reaching basin resulting warm‐water Greenland Gyre drives anticyclonic anomaly.