Linkages Between Arctic Warming and Mid-Latitude Weather Patterns
Linkages Between Arctic Warming and Mid-Latitude Weather Patterns
Katie Thomas, Rapporteur; Committee on Linkages Between Arctic Sea Ice Loss and Mid-Latitude Weather Patterns: A Workshop; Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate; Polar Research Board; Division on Earth and Life Studies; National Research Council
2014 | ISBN: 0309301882 | 83 pages | PDF | 15 MB
Katie Thomas, Rapporteur; Committee on Linkages Between Arctic Sea Ice Loss and Mid-Latitude Weather Patterns: A Workshop; Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate; Polar Research Board; Division on Earth and Life Studies; National Research Council
2014 | ISBN: 0309301882 | 83 pages | PDF | 15 MB
The Arctic has been undergoing significant changes in recent years. Average temperatures are rising twice as fast as they are elsewhere in the world. The extent and thickness of sea ice is rapidly declining. Such changes may have an impact on atmospheric conditions outside the region. Several hypotheses for how Arctic warming may be influencing mid-latitude weather patterns have been proposed recently. For example, Arctic warming could lead to a weakened jet stream resulting in more persistent weather patterns in the mid-latitudes. Or Arctic sea ice loss could lead to an increase of snow on high-latitude land, which in turn impacts the jet stream resulting in cold Eurasian and North American winters. These and other potential connections between a warming Arctic and mid-latitude weather are the subject of active research.