When the Arctic sky splits apart | Summary and Q&A

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February 25, 2018
by
Simon Clark
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When the Arctic sky splits apart

TL;DR

The splitting of the polar vortex in the stratosphere causes heating and influences the weather, bringing freezing temperatures to the northern hemisphere.

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Key Insights

  • 💨 Typhoon Tip, with its wind speeds of 305 km/h, becomes insignificant when compared to the storm splitting the sky apart.
  • 🐎 The stratospheric polar vortex, spanning 6,000 kilometers and reaching speeds of over 400 km/h, is the most powerful storm in the world.
  • 🐻‍❄️ Sudden stratospheric warming causes the polar vortex to split, resulting in significant heating and influencing weather patterns for months.
  • ❄️ The violent splitting of the polar vortex leads to arctic air penetrating further south and bringing extreme cold weather.
  • 👨‍🔬 The stratospheric polar vortex is an active area of research, and there are unanswered questions about its interactions with the troposphere.
  • 🐻‍❄️ Understanding the polar vortex-troposphere interaction improves surface forecasts and provides insights into extreme weather events.
  • 🐻‍❄️ The polar vortex will gradually reform in the stratosphere, returning the atmosphere to normal.

Transcript

when typhoon tip reached its peak intensity on October 12th 1979 in the West Pacific it became the most powerful storm ever recorded it's wind speeds peaked at 305 km/h gale force winds extended from its Center in a radius of a thousand kilometers making it the biggest hurricane or typhoon ever recorded and it was nothing compared to the storm whic... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the stratospheric polar vortex?

The stratospheric polar vortex is a massive rotating circulation of air in the stratosphere, spanning about 6,000 kilometers across. Its typical wind speed exceeds 400 km/h, making it faster than any typhoon or hurricane.

Q: How does sudden stratospheric warming influence weather?

Sudden stratospheric warming causes the air in the stratosphere to warm up significantly, by 50-80 degrees Celsius in a matter of days. This results in a change in weather patterns, with storms deflecting further south and arctic air penetrating further south, leading to extremely cold weather.

Q: What are the unanswered questions regarding the polar vortex?

There are various theories explaining the downward influence of the polar vortex, including waves being reflected, new circulations being created, and far-field effects. The mechanism that connects the stratosphere and troposphere is still not fully understood.

Q: How does knowledge of the polar vortex and troposphere interaction improve surface forecasts?

Understanding how the polar vortex interacts with the troposphere helps improve forecasts by considering the troposphere's configuration. This can provide insights into the movement of cold air and extreme temperature events.

Summary & Key Takeaways

  • Typhoon Tip, the most powerful storm ever recorded, pales in comparison to the storm tearing apart the sky. Understanding this storm requires knowledge of the layers of the atmosphere.

  • The stratosphere, home to the stratospheric polar vortex, is much bigger than the troposphere and experiences powerful winds of over 400 km/h.

  • Sudden stratospheric warming, when the polar vortex splits into two, causes significant heating and influences weather across the northern hemisphere for months.

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