Arctic sea ice melt may be causing extreme weather
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.028293
New Scientist : Climate change has led to a rapid reduction in Arctic sea ice extent. Last week the sixth-lowest extent ever was recorded by the US National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado Boulder. As the Arctic becomes warmer, the polar jet stream may be growing weaker, says Jennifer Francis of Rutgers University. The jet stream is driven by the temperature gradient between regions of cold and warm air; as that gradient diminishes, so, too, does the wind’s strength. One effect may be weather patterns that stick around for longer periods than normal. Francis cited the extreme freezing temperatures that paralyzed North America earlier this year as one example. She presented her findings at a meeting last week at the Royal Society, London.
