What's new

Welcome to Offtopix 👋, Visitor

Off Topix is a well-established general discussion forum that originally opened to the public in 2009! We provide a laid-back atmosphere, and our members are down to earth. We have a ton of content, and fresh stuff is constantly being added. We cover all sorts of topics, so there's bound to be something inside to pique your interest. We welcome anyone and everyone to register and become a member of our awesome community.

Join Our Facebook Page Today!

Join the conversation and help spread the word about offtopix on Facebook! Your voice matters—let’s make an impact together!

Join Our X.com Page Today!

Join the conversation and become a champion for Offtopix on X.com! Your voice is powerful, and together, we can create meaningful change!

Join offtopix Discord Server Today!

Join the conversation and become a champion for Offtopix on Discord! Your voice holds incredible power, and together, we can create impactful change!

Polar Vortex

wirelessguru1

Off Topix Veteran
Valued Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2012
Posts
592
Reaction score
4
Points
945
The so called "polar vortex" is essentially the North Pole shifting positions and seeking a new balance as the new (ICE) age starts... :)
 
More info:

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/06/us/polar-vortex-explained/

Americans in two dozen states from the Midwest to the Southeast and Northeast are shivering this week courtesy of a distorted polar vortex. The rush of cold air it's sending southward is the biggest visitor from the North Pole since Santa Claus. The gifts it brings, however, are chilling and generally unwelcome. Much of the United States has plunged into a deep freeze from record low temperatures.
CNN International senior meteorologist Brandon Miller answers a few pressing questions about this phenomenon.
What is a polar vortex? What distinguishes it?
The polar vortex, as it sounds, is circulation of strong, upper-level winds that normally surround the northern pole in a counterclockwise direction -- a polar low-pressure system. These winds tend to keep the bitter cold air locked in the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is not a single storm. On occasion, this vortex can become distorted and dip much farther south than you would normally find it, allowing cold air to spill southward.
How frequently does this polar vortex distortion occur?
The upper-level winds that make up the polar vortex change in intensity from time to time. When those winds decrease significantly, it can allow the vortex to become distorted, and the result is a jet stream that plunges deep into southern latitudes, bringing the cold, dense Arctic air spilling down with it. This oscillation is known as the Arctic Oscillation and it can switch from a positive phase to negative phase a few times per year. This oscillation -- namely the negative phase where the polar winds are weaker -- tends to lead to major cold air outbreaks in one or more regions of the planet.
Where on Earth can this happen?
The polar vortex can lead to major cold air outbreaks in any portion of the Northern Hemisphere -- North America, Europe and Asia. This will lead to cold snaps in multiple locations, though not always.
How dangerous is a polar vortex distortion as compared to a tornado or hurricane?
Completely different type of systems. A cold air outbreak caused by the polar vortex is much more widespread and lasts longer than a single storm. With the widespread drop in temperature, however, you can see significant winter storms develop, especially when the cold air is initially advancing into a previously warm region -- much like the nor'easter this past week.
When was the last big one to hit a densely populated area?
Serious cold snaps happen several times a year, though in different regions of the world and with different severities. Last March saw a significant decrease in temperature as a result of the polar vortex pushing into much of Europe. Many locations experienced an Easter holiday that was much colder than their Christmas holiday. The United Kingdom, for instance, had its coldest March in 50 years.
If you get caught up in one, what should you do?
Again, it's not a "storm" that you get caught in. But when faced with significant cold temperatures, you should stay inside whenever possible, layer clothing if you must be outside, winterize your home and car, etc.
Is it a side effect of global warming and should we expect more events like this?
This is a hotly researched topic. In short, yes, it could be. It seems counterintuitive that global warming could cause significant cold snaps like this one, but some research shows that it could. We know that different types of extreme weather can result from the overall warming of the planet, melting of the Arctic Sea ice, etc. This includes extreme distortions of the jet stream, which can cause heat waves in summer and cold snaps in winter.
Parts of Western Europe have been battered by the worst storms for two decades during the past week -- are they related to the weather system in the United States?
They are related in a sense, but I wouldn't say "caused by." The storms in Europe are the result of a persistent pattern that has seen the jet stream parked near the United Kingdom and Ireland, which has brought a train of storm systems over the British Isles. This is the same jet stream, of course, that has plunged deep into the southern portions of the United States. So, the jet stream has been "stuck" in a position that is allowing cold Arctic air to spill into much of the United States and Canada. But it is in a position that is bringing warmer, moist air from the Atlantic over Northwest Europe, resulting in the stormy conditions.
 
My description is, of course, more accurate since CNN and the others in the mass media still don't know that the Earth poles are shifting... :P
 
wirelessguru1 said:
My description is, of course, more accurate since CNN and the others in the mass media still don't know that the Earth poles are shifting... :P

Sources?
 
I love the term "Polar Vortex," it makes me feel like Scotty beamed me up into some science-fiction. I don't like what a lot of them say about global warming, "It's cooling, so it's obviously a hoax," well, no, while I can see why you think that, the idea of global warming isn't JUST that it's going to get warmer, but rather, drastic weather patterns entirely.
 
Nicholas McConnaughay said:
I love the term "Polar Vortex," it makes me feel like Scotty beamed me up into some science-fiction. I don't like what a lot of them say about global warming, "It's cooling, so it's obviously a hoax," well, no, while I can see why you think that, the idea of global warming isn't JUST that it's going to get warmer, but rather, drastic weather patterns entirely.

Well, man-made global warming is definitely a hoax but climate change is real and cyclical. So and in essence a new (ICE) age has just started.
 
wirelessguru1 said:
Nicholas McConnaughay said:
I love the term "Polar Vortex," it makes me feel like Scotty beamed me up into some science-fiction. I don't like what a lot of them say about global warming, "It's cooling, so it's obviously a hoax," well, no, while I can see why you think that, the idea of global warming isn't JUST that it's going to get warmer, but rather, drastic weather patterns entirely.

Well, man-made global warming is definitely a hoax but climate change is real and cyclical. So and in essence a new (ICE) age has just started.

Prove it :P
 
Nebulous said:
wirelessguru1 said:
Nicholas McConnaughay said:
I love the term "Polar Vortex," it makes me feel like Scotty beamed me up into some science-fiction. I don't like what a lot of them say about global warming, "It's cooling, so it's obviously a hoax," well, no, while I can see why you think that, the idea of global warming isn't JUST that it's going to get warmer, but rather, drastic weather patterns entirely.

Well, man-made global warming is definitely a hoax but climate change is real and cyclical. So and in essence a new (ICE) age has just started.

Prove it :P

Look, the Mayan calendar proved it - and now we're starting to see what they really meant. So too bad that some where expecting the end of the world when it was really the end of an age/era macro cycle.
 
wirelessguru1 said:
Nebulous said:
wirelessguru1 said:
Nicholas McConnaughay said:
I love the term "Polar Vortex," it makes me feel like Scotty beamed me up into some science-fiction. I don't like what a lot of them say about global warming, "It's cooling, so it's obviously a hoax," well, no, while I can see why you think that, the idea of global warming isn't JUST that it's going to get warmer, but rather, drastic weather patterns entirely.

Well, man-made global warming is definitely a hoax but climate change is real and cyclical. So and in essence a new (ICE) age has just started.

Prove it :P

Look, the Mayan calendar proved it - and now we're starting to see what they really meant. So too bad that some where expecting the end of the world when it was really the end of an age/era macro cycle.

No it didn't. :P
 
Nebulous said:
Look, their long count was an age/era macro cycle and cycles, of course, repeat.
As such a new age/era macro cycle - with associated global Earth and climate change has started.

..or in layman's terms, so that you can understand, a new ICE age has started, so the poles will continue to shift until they finally find a new balance. Also, most of the polar ice will melt on the prior poles and will then reform when the new poles become stable.

This entire process of polar ice melting and reforming could take 5 to 10 years since an age/era macro cycle is, of course, thousands of years long!
 
Why do you keep telling me to 'look?' :P
I personally find it all to be a bunch of BS and you still havent provided any info (proof..hard factual evidence that can't be reasoned away or disputed) to change my mind.
 
Sorry but I have little to no interest to change your mind! :shock:
 
Mar 04, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The seemingly endless winter dumped a half a foot snow on the ground in parts of the South, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, and many areas Tuesday morning saw something even more unusual in March: a blast of arctic air that sent temperatures plummeting into the single digits.

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport broke a 141-year-old record low temperature, reaching 4 degrees. The National Weather Service said the low reached early Tuesday broke a 5-degree record set on the day in 1873. It was also a record low for the month of March. Dulles International Airport - also outside Washington - tied a 1993 record for the month at -1 degree.

Both airports broke record lows two days in a row.

Read more: http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/24877346/another-blast-of-arctic-air-follows-latest-snow#ixzz2v1nNo0s5
 

Create an account or login to post a reply

You must be a member in order to post a reply

Create an account

Create an account here on Off Topix. It's quick & easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Welcome to Offtopix 👋, Visitor

Off Topix is a well-established general discussion forum that originally opened to the public in 2009! We provide a laid-back atmosphere, and our members are down to earth. We have a ton of content, and fresh stuff is constantly being added. We cover all sorts of topics, so there's bound to be something inside to pique your interest. We welcome anyone and everyone to register and become a member of our awesome community.

Theme customization system

You can customize some areas of the forum theme from this menu.

  • Theme customizations unavailable!

    Theme customization fields are not available to you, please contact the administrator for more information.

  • Choose the color combination that reflects your taste
    Background images
    Color gradient backgrounds
Back