A Heated Debate On ThePolar Vortex

534 Words2 Pages

A Heated Debate On The Polar Vortex
Since the beginning of 2014, meteorologists have been using a new vocabulary word to describe the phenomenon of extreme cold temperatures North America has been experiencing, named the “Polar Vortex”. It is called a vortex because of the strong winds that are present in the upper atmospheres in the polar regions of the earth. When the vortices at the poles become weaker, they start to move towards the equator, unleashing arctic storms at latitudes that are typically warm.
“When the Polar Vortex — a ring of winds circling the Arctic — breaks down, this allows cold air to spill south, affecting the eastern United States and other regions. This can result in a warmer-than-average Arctic region continents and colder temperatures that may include severe winter weather events on the North American and European.” (Overland)
Scientists are currently having a great debate; are the arctic storms at lower latitudes normal weather patterns? Or are they happening due to human activity? The effects of climate change are reshaping weather patterns all over the g...

More about A Heated Debate On ThePolar Vortex

Open Document