Cold? Polar Vortex? Blame Global Warming

[amborin]

Cold? Blame Global Warming

While the deep freeze we're experiencing may seem like proof that global warming is a myth, the truth is exactly the opposite, according to scientists who predicted this type of extreme weather in a study published in September.

Three scientists from Atmosphere and Environmental Research, Lexington, Mass., and one from Harvard co-authored an article in Oceanography that directly correlates melting Arctic Sea ice with extreme winter weather conditions on continents south.

"Arctic sea ice plays an important role in modulating surface conditions at high latitudes, and even small changes in sea ice extent can cause Arctic climate to change dramatically, with ensuing feedbacks on the entire Earth climate system," the study says.

The "ensuing feedbacks" result in part from distorted a jet stream pattern, the so-called "polar vortex." Normally it's a circular pattern around the pole that helps contain the region's chill. Distort the pattern and the chill spills south and can turn into a vicious cold snap anywhere in the northern hemisphere....

snip

http://www.thestreet.com/story/12215742/1/cold-blame-global-warming.html

[bluestate10]

1. Ignorant people have fanned out over the Web certifying the death of Global Warming because

of heavy snow and massive cold. Facts do nothing to change their views or behavior. There was a television show last year that was about massive Global cooling, that cooling took the form of a polar vortex that created heavy snow and ice and froze everything and everyone in it's path.

[amborin]

3. Facts don't seem to change their views,

you're right. In fact, a psych article a while back suggested that the more facts are presented to them, the
more they cling to their false beliefs.

[RobertEarl]

2. Vortex is nothing new

It happens.

If we were in global cooling, this vortex would have been a few degrees cooler. But it set few records this time because it was a few degrees warmer.

The reason it was warmer, and not cooler, is that fact that there are now warmer waters in the Arctic. Those warmer waters are melting the sea ice. Since there is less ice, the air is a bit warmer.

On this linked page is a world map of sea temperature anomalies. Anomalies showing that the seas around N. Europe and W. Russia are a few degrees warmer than they have been in the last 30 years or so.

http://weather.unisys.com/surface/sfc_daily.php?plot=ssa&inv=0&t=cur

[amborin]

4. Thanks for posting this; nt