Why are Our Winters So Darn Cold?

The Polar Vortex seems to contradict the very notion of global warming. But, it seems, it is precisely global warming that is the cause! Huh? What? A recent study – “Weakening of the stratospheric polar vortex by Arctic sea-ice loss” – published by a consortium of American and Korean scientists on September 2nd in the scientific journal, Nature Communications, explains:

“[B]y conducting observational analyses and model experiments, we show how Arctic sea-ice loss and cold winters in extra-polar regions are dynamically connected through the polar stratosphere. We find that decreased sea-ice cover during early winter months (November–December), especially over the Barents–Kara seas, enhances the upward propagation of planetary-scale waves with wavenumbers of 1 and 2, subsequently weakening the stratospheric polar vortex in mid-winter (January–February). The weakened polar vortex preferentially induces a negative phase of Arctic Oscillation at the surface, resulting in low temperatures in mid-latitudes.”

A layman’s explanation please? “Through a blend of statistical analysis of recent weather and computer modeling of a world in which rapid Arctic ice loss hadn’t occurred, the study establishes a link between the warming ocean, melting ice, and weakened polar vortex. For the first time, the study also proposes an epicenter of action where years of extreme ice loss in particular appear to dominate this process: a remote part of the Arctic between Scandinavia and Siberia.” Slate.com, September 3^rd.

“The ‘polar vortex’ that plunged Canada and the U.S. into historical cold last winter is said by researchers to have occurred because melting polar ice changes weather patterns… The polar ice is melting because warmer water is riding the Gulf Stream (ocean currents) from tropical regions of the Atlantic Ocean to an area north of Scandinavia.

“This causes masses of warm air to destabilize the normally strong polar air mass and send brutally cold air right at Canada and the U.S., according to Slate [cited above]… As the atmosphere continues to warm, and ocean water temperatures rise, this effect will only become more pronounced, researchers argue… The surprising result of global warming, or climate change, will be colder, snowier winters across both countries.” AOL.com, September 15^th.

While the average increase in global temperatures remains pronounced, effectively, the impact of global warming is to redirect that remaining cold air downwards into the United States and Canada earlier in the season and for longer periods of time. It’s a lot like directing your air conditioning vent right into your face.

We caused it. It’s changing every facet of our daily existence, from water access and agricultural realities, to the spreading of diseases and the viability of coastal properties, to political instability and violent weather and fire patterns. And still we brag about our ability to produce more oil than anyone else on earth and are the second largest user of coal-for-electrical-power-generation on earth.

 I’m Peter Dekom, and we still just don’t be able to believe that the dots really do connect and that we really are going to suffer for our actions.