What is a sudden stratospheric warming event?
A sudden stratospheric warming is a significant disruption of the stratospheric polar vortex that begins with large-scale atmosphere waves (called Rossby waves) getting pushed higher into the atmosphere. These waves can “break” (like waves in the ocean) on top of the polar vortex and weaken it.
What is a polar vortex 2021?
Stratospheric Polar Vortex returns for Winter 2021/2022, together with a strong easterly wind anomaly high above the Equator, impacting the Winter season. A new stratospheric Polar Vortex has now emerged over the North Pole and will continue to strengthen well into the Winter of 2021/2022.
Is the polar vortex splitting in two?
Meteorologists have predicted that the polar vortex, which is splitting into two and swirling southward, will send the US and European countries into a chilling deep freeze.
What do you mean by sudden stratospheric warming what are its effects on global climate?
A sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) is an event in which the polar stratospheric temperature rises by several tens of kelvins (up to increases of about 50 °C (90 °F)) over the course of a few days. The warming is preceded by a slowing then reversal of the westerly winds in the stratospheric polar vortex.
Is another polar vortex coming 2022?
THE FINAL BREAKDOWN OF THE INTENSE POLAR VORTEX OF 2022 This level is placed at around 30 km altitude. The Polar Vortex during February and even into early March 2022 was very intense and cold, but then a rapid breakdown has occurred through mid-March as we discussed in one of our recent articles.
Will there be another Arctic blast in 2022?
Cooler temperatures began to ooze into northeast New Mexico late on February 1st, but on February 2nd, a much colder arctic airmass quickly pushed southward through the eastern plains and westward through the gaps of the Central Mountain Chain….February 2022 Arctic Blast.
| Albuquerque | Clovis |
|---|---|
| Santa Fe | Tucumcari |
Why is it getting colder 2021?
One reason for cooler temperatures in 2021 was likely La Niña, a band of cold water in the Pacific. It’s the product of strong trade winds that scour the ocean, pushing the top layer of water toward Asia, causing deeper, colder waters to rush to the surface to fill the void.
Will we have a polar vortex in 2022?
A new stratospheric Polar Vortex is emerging over the North Pole, powering up for #Winter 2021/2022. It will combine its strength with a negative wind anomaly high above the Equator (QBO) and the La Nina, making an energetic mix of weather dynamics.
Is sudden stratospheric warming related to climate change?
SSWs are natural fluctuations in the atmosphere and are not caused by climate change. Some models predict an increase with climate change, while others predict a decrease, so there is no clear direction. Models are getting better at representing the stratosphere, although there are still deficiencies.
What caused the 2021 polar vortex?
That’s because sudden stratospheric warmings can cause the tropospheric polar vortex to expand equatorward, sending blasts of cold air to lower latitudes. That’s likely what happened in February of this year, when a record-setting ice storm pummeled wide swaths of North America.
Why is it so cold this year 2021?
The textbook dipole weather pattern that has established across the northern Pacific and western North America around the New Year has helped a significantly deep upper trough to bring frigid cold airmass into western Canada and Northwest U.S. through early January.
Is January 2022 colder than normal?
The contiguous U.S. kicked off 2022 with its coolest January since 2014. However, the month still ranked nearly a degree warmer than average across the nation. January 2022 was also the driest January in eight years and among the top-15 driest Januarys on record.
What is a sudden stratospheric warming?
A sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) is an event in which the polar stratospheric temperature rises by several tens of kelvins (up to increases of about 50 °C (90 °F)) over the course of a few days. The warming is preceded by a slowing then reversal of the westerly winds in the stratospheric polar vortex.
What is the final warming of the stratosphere?
After this warming, the stratosphere never recovers to its previous state and the vortex breaks up and dissipates. The final warming often occurs in March or April. Sometimes the stratosphere never recovers from what would otherwise be a mid-winter major warming in January or February, and that warming becomes the final warming.
How does stratospheric warming affect the jet stream?
Following a sudden stratospheric warming, the high altitude winds reverse to flow eastward instead of their usual westward. The eastward winds progress down through the atmosphere and weaken the jet stream, often giving easterly winds near the surface and resulting in dramatic reductions in temperature in Europe.
When do stratospheric warmings occur in New Hampshire?
Sudden stratospheric warmings are most common in mid- to late winter, but they have been observed as early as December in the NH. From the mid-1950s to 1991, major warmings occurred about every other year, but between 1992 and 1998 there were no major warmings.