A spike in temperature high above the North Pole pushed the Arctic's Polar Vortex to be on the move, which may lead to wild winter weather in the coming weeks.
What is a Polar Vortex?
According to the National Weather Service, a polar vortex is a large low-pressure area with cold air surrounding both poles. It has always existed near the poles. As it weakens during summer, the polar vortex increases in strength during winter.
The counter-clockwise flow of air in the "vortex" helps keep colder air in the northern hemisphere.
An atmospheric scientist from the University of Albany, Andrea Lang explains "every year we get this big spin up and then it disappears"
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Why Should We Worry About the Arctic's Polar Vortex?
The polar vortex, despite its location, is very susceptible to change in temperature and climatic conditions in different sections of the globe.
Due to the sudden warming of the stratosphere, reported by the University of Bristol, 10-30 miles above the North Pole could result in harsh air pushing southward into the United States. Although there are no exact dates on when Americans will feel the effects of the Polar Vortex, experts predict that it will happen within a few weeks.
Despite the polar vortex circulating cold air in the Arctic throughout the year, it, sometimes, gets knocked out of orbit due to disruptions and agitations. At the beginning of 2021, experts have observed a spike in the stratosphere temperature which is sure to knock the polar vortex out of alignment.
Scientists are closely monitoring developments and current clues on the polar vortex to better determine its exact impact.
Impact of the Polar Vortex
The main storm track cutting across the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere is responsible for dividing colder air in the north and the warmer air down south.
Because the Arctic's polar vortex is physically disconnected from where most weather occurs, it has a mostly indirect impact on daily weather.
The downward sinking of air, due to cold air's density, results in sections of the Arctic's polar vortex to be pushed down into lower latitudes of Asia, Europe, and North America.
In a CNN article, Jason Furtado, an assistant professor of the University of Oklahoma's School of Meteorology says "In the stratosphere, the polar vortex typically recovers in strength within a couple of weeks of the peak of the event".
He further explains that due to the effects of SSW events such as the southern jet stream and stormy weather, it can last for up to 8 weeks. The events, that quickly evolve, can leave lasting impacts on winter weather patterns in the troposphere.
Experts remind the public that despite the sudden stratospheric warming events, there is no certainty that direct impacts from the Arctic's Polar Vortex will be felt in the US.
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