A large portion of the United States is currently experiencing extremely low temperatures while the majority of the world is facing unseasonably warm weather. Despite its oddness, this paradox can be explained by the effects of climate change on our planet, according to scientists.

On a global temperature map for the past few days, large areas of the world such as the Arctic, Asia, parts of Africa, the Middle East, and South America are depicted as dark red, indicating temperatures that are more than 12 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius) higher than the average from the late 20th century. However, the United States appears as a cold anomaly with a deep bluish-purple color, indicating temperatures that are equally unusual but on the colder end of the spectrum.

In some areas of North Dakota, the wind chill dropped to negative 70 degrees (-56 degrees Celsius), while in Miami the heat index was a scorching 92 degrees (33 degrees Celsius) warmer. The fourth coldest NFL game ever occurred in Kansas City, while on the other side of the world, the temperature soared to a blistering 92 degrees – 12 degrees (6.8 degrees Celsius) higher than the average for Friday at the Australian Open in Melbourne. Warm temperature records were broken overnight in Aruba, Curacao, parts of Argentina, Oman, and Iran.

In locations with higher temperatures than usual, this phenomenon occurred in both the southern hemisphere during summer and the northern hemisphere during winter. For instance, Oman, located in the north, experienced its hottest night in January with a temperature of 79.5 degrees Fahrenheit (26.4 degrees Celsius). Similarly, Argentina, situated in the south, also broke records with its warmest January night reaching 81.1 degrees Fahrenheit (27.3 degrees Celsius).

The current state of the world may feel chaotic, and in a sense it is. This can be attributed to changes in the Arctic, which previously experienced warming at twice the rate of the rest of the world. However, it is now warming at a rate three to four times faster.

According to Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist at the Woodwell Research Center and a leading expert in the theory of Arctic Amplification, when the Arctic experiences extreme warm temperatures (such as currently), it increases the chances of cold weather reaching places like Texas that are not prepared for it. She also explains that the rapid warming of the Arctic is a clear indication of human-caused climate change, which in turn makes extreme winter weather more likely despite overall global warming.

The method by which the cold is infiltrating is through a phrase related to weather that is becoming more and more recognized by Americans: The polar vortex. This term has been in use since 1853, but has gained popularity in the last ten years.

Judah Cohen, an expert on winter weather from a commercial firm in Boston called Atmospheric Environmental Research, suggests that the frequency of icy stabs may be increasing.

Cohen described the polar vortex as a powerful, frigid weather phenomenon that typically remains situated over the Earth’s poles, contained by fierce winds that swirl around it.

The comparison made was to a figure skater twirling quickly with arms close to the body, explained Cohen. However, as the polar vortex loses strength, the arms begin to flail and the skater loses balance, causing the cold air to escape from the center of the polar vortex.

According to Cohen, the recent cold spell is in line with changes in the Arctic and the polar vortex. He explains that when the polar vortex becomes elongated, similar to a stretched rubber band, there is a higher chance of severe winter weather in the United States. This is particularly concentrated in January, as seen in the current extreme case of the polar vortex stretching.

According to Cohen, this one is more robust and may have a longer lifespan compared to others.

Research conducted by Cohen and his colleagues has revealed an increase in the occurrence of polar vortex outbreaks in recent years.

According to climate scientist Steve Vavrus from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the concept is that global warming causes the jet stream, which is responsible for weather patterns, to become more turbulent. This turbulence affects the polar vortex, shifting it towards the United States.

There is ongoing discussion among climate scientists about this theory, but it is gaining support. At first, Vavrus and Francis suggested that melting Arctic sea ice was causing changes in barometric pressure. However, other scientists now believe that the issue is more complex and still linked to climate change and the heightened warming in the Arctic. Other factors, such as Siberian snow cover and atmospheric waves, also contribute to this phenomenon.

At the moment, what stands out to me is that Arctic Amplification is occurring and has intricate connections within our climate system. While we can always expect cold weather in the winter, it may be changing in ways that we are still trying to comprehend and discover. University of Georgia professor of meteorology, Marshall Shepherd, states that unlike the saying “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” the effects in the Arctic do not stay isolated.

Imagine the situation as a symphony being performed by an orchestra, with a warming planet serving as the driving force behind all the instruments, according to Victor Gensini, a meteorology professor at Northern Illinois University.

According to Gensini and Cohen, the current cold spell in the US will soon dissipate and be replaced by unseasonably warm temperatures as a result of climate change. However, they also predict another polar vortex towards the end of the month, though not as severe as the current one.

Although the United States is experiencing cold temperatures, the Earth’s overall average temperature continues to approach daily, weekly, and monthly records. This has been the case for over seven months, according to scientists, due to the fact that the United States comprises only 2% of the Earth’s surface.

Gensini, who observed the temperature of -6 degrees outside his window on Tuesday, remarked that cities such as Chicago, Denver, Lincoln, Omaha, Oklahoma City, Dallas, and Houston are all currently facing similar conditions. He also noted that when considering the global scale, these cities are merely small, isolated areas.

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Source: wral.com