'Polar Vortex' to Blast Frigid Air Over Much of US

Yahoo (AP)

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The weather warnings are dire: Life threatening wind chills. Historic cold outbreak.

Winter is normally cold, but starting Sunday tundra-like temperatures are poised to deliver a rare and potentially dangerous sledgehammer blow to much of the Midwest, driving temperatures so far below zero that records will shatter.

One reason? A "polar vortex," as one meteorologist calls it, which will send cold air piled up at the North Pole down to the U.S., funneling it as far south as the Gulf Coast.

That's really only half of the story. What is the Polar Vortex anyway?

A polar vortex (also known as mignogno cyclones, polar vortices, Arctic cyclones, sub-polar cyclones, and the circumpolar whirl) is a persistent, large-scale cyclone located near one or both of a planet's geographical poles. On Earth, the polar vortices are located in the middle and upper troposphere and the stratosphere. They surround the polar highs and lie in the wake of the polar front. These cold-core low-pressure areas strengthen in the winter and weaken in the summer.[1] They usually span 1,000–2,000 kilometers (620–1,240 miles) in which the air is circulating in a counter-clockwise fashion (in the northern hemisphere). The reason for the rotation is the same as any other cyclone, the Coriolis effect.

The Arctic vortex has two centres, one near Baffin Island and the other over northeast Siberia.[2] In the southern hemisphere, it tends to be located near the edge of the Ross ice shelf near 160 west longitude.[3] When the polar vortex is strong, the Westerlies increase in strength. When the polar cyclone is weak, the general flow pattern across mid-latitudes buckles and significant cold outbreaks occur.[4] Ozone depletion occurs within the polar vortex, particularly over the Southern Hemisphere, which reaches a maximum in the spring.

Bolding mine.

Okay so it's always there at both poles but, why does it occasionally act a bully and beat the crap out of us with extremely frigid air and why is it happening when the planet is supposed to be warming? An article from last January discusses what seems to be going on.

Stratosperic Phenomenon Is Bringing Frigid Cold to US

Sudden stratospheric warming events take place in about half of all Northern Hemisphere winters, and they have been occurring with increasing frequency during the past decade, possibly related to the loss of Arctic sea ice due to global warming. Arctic sea ice declined to its smallest extent on record in September 2012.

Sudden stratospheric warming events occur when large atmospheric waves, known as Rossby waves, extend beyond the troposphere where most weather occurs, and into the stratosphere. This vertical transport of energy can set a complex process into motion that leads to the breakdown of the high altitude cold low pressure area that typically spins above the North Pole during the winter, which is known as the polar vortex.

The polar vortex plays a major role in determining how much Arctic air spills southward toward the mid-latitudes. When there is a strong polar vortex, cold air tends to stay bottled up in the Arctic. However, when the vortex weakens or is disrupted, like a spinning top that suddenly starts wobbling, it can cause polar air masses to surge south, while the Arctic experiences milder-than-average temperatures.

A study linked in the article explains in detail what's been observed and what conclusions have been drawn about how global warming is likely causing this effect to happen more frequently.

To me this is at least a good part of the answer as to why if the planet is warming, it has been getting so damn cold in the winter. There's a lot more involved such as arctic amplification and the negative/positive phases of the Arctic Oscillation. Maybe those can be discussed throughout the thread.

when will it be directed to europe?
ore will the ocean weaken it off?

There is Always a new name for something being created. Seems like every generation has to change names so their grandparents don't know what the hell they are talking about. Then they say that us old people are getting alzheimers. Before alzheimers it was dementia. Before dementia it was senile. Before that everyone just said when you got old you got forgetful. Oh well, that's life.

reply to post by Kali74


Can we get a map so we can see what areas are supposed to be affected?

Seems to me nature while warming up is still able to give nations that have not joined the world in the environmental acts and treaties to reconsider and start respecting just before its too late.

Start listening to the dying planet.

Please.

AfterInfinity
reply to post by Kali74

 

Can we get a map so we can see what areas are supposed to be affected?

I'm sitting in North Dakota. Looking at -60 wind chills tomorrow and Monday.

reply to post by Kali74

A study linked in the article explains in detail what's been observed and what conclusions have been drawn about how global warming is likely causing this effect to happen more frequently.

To me this is at least a good part of the answer as to why if the planet is warming, it has been getting so damn cold in the winter. There's a lot more involved such as arctic amplification and the negative/positive phases of the Arctic Oscillation. Maybe those can be discussed throughout the thread.

Perhaps we can discuss the weather without it being "linked" to global warming?

Are we seeing changes in climate? Sure we are. But there are countless arguments and contradicting studies, papers, points of view, opinions, data, etc. on which direction the mercury is going and where it has been.

I'd love to see a topic on the weather not bring global warming into it. It's cold, and your polar vortex description is excellent and a great point to discuss, but as soon as you put global warming into the topic, I already know where this thread is going.

~Namaste

reply to post by SonOfTheLawOfOne


No because that's actually the point of the thread. People keep saying winter is getting colder so global warming is a hoax... without understanding why extreme cold spells are in fact a symptom of arctic warming.

reply to post by rickymouse


It's not a new name.

reply to post by beezzer


I'm not seeing any spectacular difference in weather around my area. Maybe I should check the local weather.

That's interesting. It's nice to have terms for it but those who are in it will call it brrr. The Governor of MN already has closed down school for Monday because of the temps getting to -35 day temps with -50 wind chill. I've often wondered how global warming causes colder winters but I still haven't decided what I believe in that regard.

On weather channel and local news it's proving climate change as conspiracy theorists. Several fro NOAA stated we are coming to the end of the solar cycle and things will begin to cool and summer will be milder next year

Earth goes through cycles and polar vortexes are not new, they are ancient and are just northern front being pushed downward by a jet stream and when it hits a "wall" of high pressure warm front the polar front spirals like eddies in a stream as if spirals and cools the area it widens out.

South Georgia got down to 28f last night and we supposed to get colder with chance of light snow as far south as Tallahassee.


Also the arctic team studying if there was climate warming who got stuck in ice says there is no sign of warming

Quote

"Let's be clear. Us becoming locked in ice was not caused by climate change. Instead it seems to have been an aftershock of the arrival of iceberg B09B which triggered a massive reconfiguration of sea ice in the area."

Now that he's off the boat he has been correcting climate change morons telling lies about what they've found. And he's made it clear the cycle of warming is ending as is common on the planet and now entering a cooler solar activity and ice is thicker, older and growing

Kali74
reply to post by SonOfTheLawOfOne

 

No because that's actually the point of the thread. People keep saying winter is getting colder so global warming is a hoax... without understanding why extreme cold spells are in fact a symptom of arctic warming.

Arctic warming happens for a number of reasons besides "global warming", such as normal fluctuations and variations in the planet's climate. It is not inextricably linked to our current day definition of "global warming", and to say so only reiterates what I previously said about all of the contradicting facts and opinions on global warming.

If you would have stuck with the polar vortex, global warming enthusiasts can figure it out for themselves if that's the direction their views take them.

For the record, I'm not trying to show any bias for or against the original story, but both of your sources have not a single mention of global warming. You added that to the context to change the meaning of the original story and its description which only mentioned the polar vortex. You also (conveniently) left this part out of the source:

It's relatively uncommon to have such frigid air blanket so much of the U.S., maybe once a decade or every couple of decades, Maue said.

Emphasis mine. For anyone who doesn't check your sources, your post infers global warming but your sources do not.

~Namaste

reply to post by Cito


That's unfortunate. I rather enjoyed last summer. Summer is my favorite season by far. There's so much to do and see, so many sensations to enjoy. It's like my whole body and mind comes to life.

But then you get winter...and everything is just - dead.

i reckon the Arctic Vortex actually hijacks the Jet Stream from the sound of the article you linked


i wonder IF this north polar Vortex spilling & forcing it's way into the lower latitudes will actually cool the Ocean Gulf Stream as a byproduct... and bring even colder winds &longer duration winter weather as a result--
especially to the GB Isles & parts of western Europe


i also wonder if the normal patterns of seasonal weather will continue throughout the other 3 seasons of the year ---
And if this weather/season disruptions could be described as "the Earth reeling like a drunkard"
~~~ which is one of the disruptions in world conditions at the 'end of the Age' prophecies



hmmm. thanks

reply to post by AfterInfinity


I can tell you Southern Missouri is calling for -3 in some places over the next day or so.

Sub-Zero in the mid-south. Always fun.... Plumbers make their wages on events like this, I tell ya.

Were getting a pretty good snowfall here in SW Colorado
definitely a day to stay inside near the fire... but the wife and daughters are gonna make me go outside and build a stupid snowwoman... Ah well gotta love the snow

reply to post by SonOfTheLawOfOne

Arctic warming happens for a number of reasons besides "global warming", such as normal fluctuations and variations in the planet's climate.

Yes, but why is it happening now?

It is not inextricably linked to our current day definition of "global warming"

I haven't now and have never even hinted at such.

If you would have stuck with the polar vortex

I am sticking with the polar vortex.

global warming enthusiasts

Absurd term.

but both of your sources have not a single mention of global warming.

Sure they did.

You added that to the context to change the meaning of the original story and its description which only mentioned the polar vortex.

I stated after quoting the title article, that it was only part of the story and then offered my view and facts to back to my view of what the rest of the story is. In your own threads, you can write them however you choose to.

You also (conveniently) left this part out of the source (conveniently)

How is that conveniently left out? I think maybe you need to reread my OP.

For anyone who doesn't check your sources, your post infers global warming but your sources do not.

Yes they do. Maybe reread those too.

Kali74
reply to post by SonOfTheLawOfOne

 

Yes, but why is it happening now?

As the meteorologist in your source stated and I quoted, because it has always happened and occurs every decade or so. It's quite obvious you would disregard any answer I give to your question, so it's rhetorical.

Absurd term.

That's your opinion, but I could see how climate change enthusiasts might be less insulting to you.

(me)...but both of your sources have not a single mention of global warming.

(you)...Sure they did.

The first 2 most certainly did NOT! It shows me what level you'll go to in order to push your own personal agenda that links any weather phenomenon to a global warming meme. The news and wiki links said nothing, but you threw your explanation with a strawman argument taking you to a known global warming biased website with their "own" explanation and subjective opinions on why the weather is what it is.

And that is EXACTLY why I said I knew where this thread was going. You've established my argument.

(me)...You added that to the context to change the meaning of the original story and its description which only mentioned the polar vortex.


(you)...I stated after quoting the title article, that it was only part of the story and then offered my view and facts to back to my view of what the rest of the story is. In your own threads, you can write them however you choose to.

You didn't state it as your opinion or view with supporting facts... And while you might be able to write your own threads however you want, writing ones like yours forces members like myself to choose to ignore most of what you have to say due to being purposefully dishonest.

How is that conveniently left out? I think maybe you need to reread my OP.

I quoted a part of your source that clearly mentioned it occurs every decade or so. You left this part out when quoting everything else.

(me)...For anyone who doesn't check your sources, your post infers global warming but your sources do not.

(you)...Yes they do. Maybe reread those too.

edit on 1/4/2014 by Kali74 because: (no reason given)

I think you need to re-read your original post which (when I read it) included Wiki and Yahoo news, not anything else. Neither of those have a single word or hint of global warming.

~Namaste



EDIT: I will take back the insult, because I can't prove that your link was or was not there, but that's as far as I will go with it because I specifically went through your post and only had 2 sources when I read it.

reply to post by SonOfTheLawOfOne

They most certainly did NOT, that is a straight up LIE! You added an additional link to your post after I called you out in my previous posts, thus why I said BOTH your sources, because there were 2, not the third one you added. That is deceitful and deceptive, and shows me what level you'll go to in order to push your own personal agenda that links any weather phenomenon to a global warming meme.

And that is EXACTLY why I said I knew where this thread was going. You've established my argument.

Before I respond to anything else you posted, I'm going to have to address this attack. You can even get a mod to help you if you like but please do it in the open because I will not tolerate such a vicious attack. I did not edit the OP. Can you please tell me how I edited the OP without there being the normal "edited by Kali74: no reason given"?