Claim that jet stream crossing equator is ‘climate emergency’ is utter nonsense

[DesMoinesDem]

Two bloggers have made a stunning claim that has spread like wildfire on the Internet: They say the Northern Hemisphere jet stream, the high-altitude river of winds that separates cold air from warm air, has done something new and outrageous. They say it has crossed the equator, joining the jet stream in the Southern Hemisphere. One said this signifies that the jet stream is ‘wrecked‘, the other said it means we have a “global climate emergency.”

But these shrill claims have no validity — air flow between the hemispheres occurs routinely. The claims are unsupported and unscientific, and they demonstrate the danger of wild assertions made by non-experts reaching and misleading the masses.
...
I reached out to several atmospheric scientists, who have graduate degrees and are trusted sources in the profession, for their reaction to these claims. Without exception, they said air flow between the hemispheres is not at all uncommon.

“This is total nonsense,” said Cliff Mass, a professor of meteorology at the University of Washington. “Flow often crosses the equator.”

Mass added that the cross-equator flow identified by Scribbler and Beckwith is not between mid-latitude jet streams, as claimed. “The analysis is making mistakes that even one of my junior undergrads would not make,” Mass said.

Ryan Maue, a senior meteorologist with a doctoral degree who works at WeatherBell Analytics, agreed with Mass that the cross-equator flow is totally normal and not evidence of a joint hemispheric jet stream. “Cross-equatorial flow at both upper and lower levels is part of the seasonal transition of the Western Pacific monsoon through boreal summer,” he said.
...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/06/30/claim-that-jet-stream-crossing-equator-is-climate-emergency-is-utter-nonsense/

[Dr Hobbitstein]

1. I had a feeling that original article was a big FUD nothingburger. nt

[MohRokTah]

2. Science always outs the fraudulent claims. eom

[Rex]

3. But but but...WWIII, another Cold War! Penguins armed with grenades!

[840high]

7. My kittens are armed

with grenades.

[Nye Bevan]

4. But "Robert Scribbler" is "a progressive novelist, non-fiction writer and emerging threats expert",

according to himself. How could he possibly be wrong?

[zazen]

5. it's not like there's a shortage of dire warnings on which there is scientific consensus

Why make them up? I'm guessing Scribbler and Beckwith aren't driven by ego as much as misplaced zeal to "wake people up" based on their legitimate sense of urgency around climate change. However, this level of sloppiness just gives deniers more ammo.

[Ex Lurker]

9. Agent provacateur makes outlandish, easily disproved claim

which then casts doubt on legitimate issues. I'm not saying that's what happened here, but the tactic is Disinformation 101.

[Igel]

6. It's not bad news.

People have a negative news bias. Pretty much by default.

Sometimes me thinks the stronger the bias the greater the claims of critical thinking.

[Amimnoch]

8. Worst thing is this shit gives ammo to the climate change deniers.

I can already hear their stupid arguments citing this.

[JBoy]

10. Come on! Anyone who's seen Ghostbusters knows: DON'T CROSS THE STREAMS!!

[sufrommich]

11. I honestly think there are people who get some kind

of thrill from believing the worst of everything. I also believe the internet is making people dumb,conspiracies and bad science have become the internet's first religion.

[Odin2005]

12. I knew it!

[pintobean]

13. non-experts

The internet provides a never ending supply of them

[Brickbat]

14. Thanks for this.

[airplaneman]

15. Paul Beckwith (a climate scientist) talks about this in the link I have provided

-Airplane