Warm air vs. cold air

[russholio]

Hey John,

I just read, in a nutshell, that the reason for this brutally cold weather is that warm air is pushing arctic air down into us. I always thought that cold air was heavier, more dense, and thus the one to do the pushing. Am I missing something, confused, misinformed, or just plain nuts?

Russ

 

[Admin]

Hi Russ

Interesting you say this, as when I was in school and even since, there never really was a full understanding of what made the jetstream make its large scale changes, such as arctic outbreaks and heat waves.

About 15 years ago, I started to formulate an idea in my head about how the reason why we do not know is that we have been looking in the wrong places for the answer. So my idea revolved around the tropics having a large influence on the mid latitude weather (where we live and the jetstream controls the weather here at the surface). I really have not been able to come up with a solid connection, but have ideas.

I also know that there is an idea that the stratosphere and the troposphere (troposphere is where our weather takes place) are not independent of each other, but yet, the stratosphere can have strong influences on the troposphere. Such as a sudden warming of the stratosphere will cause the arctic air to pile up in the vicinity of Hudson Bay and lead to the cold we have been seeing for around 2 weeks now.

I would be very interested to see what you read and possibly learn something new!

-John

 

[gary_in_neenah]

Guys,
I was just reading about this today. According to the article a mass of warm air broke off from somewhere in the tropics and split the vortex allowing a large area to relocate over the U.S.

The cause? Wait for it....yup Climate Change. Here's another article that pretty much says the same.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/polar-...weather-event-and-is-global-warming-to-blame/

Gary

 

[Skylar]

I wonder if it was climate change that caused the same type temps back in 96? Of course, I don't remember it being called the POLAR VORTEX back then either. Any change from average/normal weather is now due to climate change. Yaaawwwn.

 

[harvest1121]

I bet it was called weather in the 60's

 

[russholio]

John,

Unfortunately, I don't remember the site I saw it on. I didn't think too much about it until after the fact. If it comes to me or I stumble upon it, I'll let you know. I have to say I agree with Gary and Skylar!

 

[byr 13]

I bet it was called weather in the 60's

true

 

[woodey8]

John if I remember correctly the term Siberian Express was used to describe the cold weather outbreaks instead of polar vortex
.

 

[Admin]

John if I remember correctly the term Siberian Express was used to describe the cold weather outbreaks instead of polar vortex
.

Polar Vortex is so much more dramatic. Draws more attention and thus more $.

-John

 

[G]

Never used to have Virga either. That is just a neat name for rain or precip that does not make it to the ground. Back in the old days I remember calling it a cloud.