Greenland warming and ice loss have slowed down since the early 2010s, contrasting with the rest of the Arctic. This study shows that a simplified atmospheric circulation model successfully simulates an atmospheric teleconnection from the tropics to Greenland, explaining Greenland's cooling through intensified cyclonic circulation. Analysis indicates that more Central Pacific El Niño events over the last decade generated this teleconnection by shifting the tropical rainfall zone poleward. The intensified cyclonic circulation extends into the Arctic Ocean, suggesting indirect atmospheric forcing. Frequent Central Pacific El Niño events played a key role in the slowdown of Greenland warming and possibly Arctic sea-ice loss.

Shinji Matsumura, Koji Yamazaki, Kazuyoshi Suzuki