The North Polar Jet Stream appears to be near collapse.
Follow its demise.
Is the North Polar Jet Stream dying?
(8 posts) (4 voices)-
axess
MemberDiver,
When I clicked on the link I went to a picture showing the northern hemisphere viewed from above then covered with lots of swirly coloured patterns with a grid reference on the left side.I don't know whether there was supposed to be other explanatory information on that link as well and I maybe didn't get it because of the vagaries of my computer.
Could you guide me to other information that explains what I am seeing a bit more comprehensively please?
Posted Thursday 28 Apr 2016 @ 9:59:49 pm from IP # -
Hi axess,
What you see is a wind map that is used by many climatologists and organisations, it often features in various reports. You would no doubt have seen it before in other formats but you can view a lot of different data, temperatures, wave heights, ocean currents and speed, particulate concentrations, different projections, wind speeds at different atmospheric levels etc by clicking on "EARTH" in the bottom left to bring up a box and change the settings. You can also use your mouse to rotate the Earth.
I have it set to look down on the North Pole and it is set at 250 hPa (1/4 atmospheric pressure) on the wind settings. This shows the North Polar Jet Stream which varies between 300 hPa during winter and 200 hPa during summer.
The North Polar Jet Stream has weakened considerably since the Arctic has started heating at a much faster pace than the rest of the Earth and we are now in an accelerated warming period after a hiatus. The Jet Stream is normally a fast moving air current but due to it weakening and slowing down, it has become 'stretched' and 'curvy'. The most noticable affect of this has been the very cold winter temperatures on the US East Coast as well as the UK when the Jet Stream has 'stretched' south.
What is happening now is the North Polar Jet Stream has become so 'stretched' and 'curvy' that it is breaking up and part of it is being sent north where it is expected to disappear while the remainder is expected to merge with the Sub Tropical Jet Stream which is actually at a different height. I study the North Polar Jet Stream as a matter of course since I became aware of its changing influence on the weather patterns in recent years and the changes in its behaviour have been very noticeable.
If the North Polar Jet Stream does fail, then more warm air will enter the Arctic but the full affect on Europe and other regions is largely unknown because it is all new territory.
EDIT: If you click on the globe at any point, a small green circle will be displayed. The data from that area will be displayed on the left of the screen.
If you also look at the globe at this time (29/04/16), you will see that the jet stream has dipped below the UK. Without doubt, they will be having very cold weather at the moment.
Posted Friday 29 Apr 2016 @ 3:27:57 am from IP # -
As viewed with Australia at the bottom and Greenland at the top.
Posted Saturday 30 Apr 2016 @ 12:37:04 am from IP # -
The North Polar Jet Stream is now stretched, wavy, fragmented and largely un-recognisable. During the past two weeks, it has stretched south to the North African Coast and nearly reached Mexico, causing an exchange of air between the Arctic and the areas just mentioned. It is looking very grim for this summer's sea ice cover.
Posted Saturday 14 May 2016 @ 4:02:08 pm from IP # -
Bushwalker
MemberAlready not looking good:
Posted Saturday 14 May 2016 @ 10:33:16 pm from IP #
