Bad news for climate deniers who cite unusually cold winters as counter-evidence for global warming and those who figured a silver lining of global warming might be lower winter heating bills. The latest research published in
Nature Communications and reported by
Eric Holthaus Slate entitled,
New Study Links Polar Vortex to Climate Change, shows how we can have both at the same time and that the freezing winters caused by the polar vortex phenomena may be caused by global warming. Holthaus publishes this article after speaking with Seong-Joong Kim, a climate scientist at the Korea Polar Research Institute, who co-authored this study just published in Nature Communications.
Through a blend of statistical analysis of recent weather and computer modeling of a world in which rapid Arctic ice loss hadn’t occurred, the study establishes a link between the warming ocean, melting ice, and weakened polar vortex. For the first time, the study also proposes an epicenter of action where years of extreme ice loss in particular appear to dominate this process: a remote part of the Arctic between Scandinavia and Siberia.
As strange as it sounds, Kim believes the intense cold air outbreaks in recent winters across Europe, Asia, and North America are, in his words, “a side effect of global warming.” Building on results released in the new paper and his interpretation of other researchers’ findings, here’s his best guess of what’s going on. Abnormally warm waters in the tropical Atlantic travel up the Gulf Stream toward Europe in the late summer and fall months, motivating exceptional sea ice melt in the Barents-Kara seas north of Scandinavia. When that area is ice free, the open water releases heat into the atmosphere during November and December, and sets up an anomalous blocking pattern over the Ural Mountains. By midwinter, as more and more heat is being transferred to the Arctic, the troposphere and stratosphere can link up, destabilizing the polar vortex, weakening the jet stream, and sending waves of cold air southward. ...
Kim says each particular manifestation of the process he outlined will happen a bit differently. For example, Kim said the early 2014 cold air outbreaks in North America were funneled directly toward the central and eastern United States by an especially persistent blocking pattern off the West Coast. It may not happen that way every year, and at its heart, this is a primarily Eurasian phenomenon. ...
I wonder if there is some kind of index that could show a trend of how much more overwhelming data it takes for climate change deniers to suddenly realize how deluded they are?
At what point will they open their eyes and say, "oh crap, how could we have been so wrong?"
Will congressional deniers finally at some point confess their errors and apologize for blocking important environmental legislation or will they try to squeak by unnoticed by not showing up at the next major vote on limiting fossil fuel emissions?
Although, it seems increasingly likely to me that the congressional climate change deniers know perfectly well that denial is stupid and inconsistent with facts. Their position is entirely political. They would probably watch their grandmothers drift off into the rising ocean sea levels before risking the loss of the most extreme Tea Party zealots.
This kind of obstructionism really burns me up, and make me hot under the collar. We may have to apply some heat to congress to see if we can unfreeze this jam against reducing fossil fuel emissions.
If you haven't already, please check out the information on the People's Climate March this Sunday in New York.
Here is some information being run by our UN Climate Summit group.
Have you signed up yet to participate in the Peoples' Climate March? The September 21 March is being held two days before the UN Climate Summit, where government and corporate leaders will convene to discuss taking action to address climate change.
Tens of thousands are expected to march in New York City and over 700 groups and organizations are participating.
Let's make September a game-changer for the climate movement. Sign up now for a bus, train, or ride shares (or volunteer transport.) Individuals, campuses, churches and organizations are registering to host marchers.
Sign up here!!! -- People's Climate March