It is connected through all atmospheric levels, from the ground up, but usually has different shapes at different altitudes. So to recap, the Polar Vortex behaves like a very large cyclone, covering the whole north pole, down to the mid-latitudes. These arms also pack a lot of energy and can create strong winter storms, like a Noreaster’ in the United States or cold air outbreaks in Europe. Notice the “arms” extending into the lower latitudes, bringing along colder air and snowfall. The closer to the ground, the more deformed the polar vortex gets because it has to interact with the mountains, overall terrain, and many pressure systems. In the next image below, we have the bottom of the polar vortex at around 5km/3miles. Winds are very important when talking about the polar vortex, as they are usually the first to show that something in the polar vortex is changing. The stronger winds are typically found in the outer edge, also called “the surf zone”. It is circular, with the temperature dropping quickly towards its inner core. The image below shows the high-altitude Polar Vortex at around 30km/18.5miles in the middle Stratosphere during Winter. That is due to the influence of the terrain/mountains and strong pressure systems acting as obstacles in the flow. But the lower structure of the polar vortex is much more uneven and disrupted. The upper (stratospheric) part is more circular and symmetrical as it spins higher above the ground. You can see what the actual structure of the Polar Vortex looks like. The vertical axis is greatly enhanced for better visual presentation. We produced a 3-dimensional image of the Polar Vortex, extending from the lower levels into the Stratosphere. It extends from the surface layer far up into the Stratosphere. This causes a strong global pressure difference between the polar and sub-tropical regions, and a large low-pressure (cyclonic) circulation starts to develop across the Northern Hemisphere. But as the polar temperatures drop, the atmosphere further to the south is still relatively warm as it continues to receive light and energy from the Sun. You will see how having more snow in October can mean more snow and cold in the Winter.Īs we head into autumn, the polar regions start to cool as the Sun gets lower, and less energy reaches the area. So it matters in what shape or form the Polar Vortex is as we enter the season.īut besides directly affecting the Polar Vortex, the pressure anomalies in the next days/weeks will also put another process in motion that can be even more disruptive for the Winter polar circulation. Weather is linked to the stratospheric Polar Vortex, especially during the Winter. These early disruption processes can have an important effect as we get closer to Winter. Strong pressure systems in the lower atmosphere will send energy upwards into the Stratosphere, affecting the Polar Vortex and disrupting its early development process. The Polar Vortex has just begun to form for the 2022/2023 weather season, but it is already facing its first disruptive event.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |