“We may have to get used to winters where spells of weather go on for weeks – or even months”
The main system that helps determine the weather over Northern Europe and North America may be changing, research suggests.
The study shows that the so-called jet stream has increasingly taken a longer, meandering path.
This has resulted in weather remaining the same for more prolonged periods.
The work was presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Chicago.
The observation could be as a result of the recent warming of the Arctic. Temperatures there have been rising two to three times faster than the rest of the globe.
According to Prof Jennifer Francis of Rutgers University in New Jersey: “This does seem to suggest that weather patterns are changing and people are noticing that the weather in their area is not what it used to be.”
The meandering jet stream has accounted for the recent stormy weather over the UK and the bitter winter weather in the US Mid-West remaining longer than it otherwise would have.
“We can expect more of the same and we can expect it to happen more frequently,” says Prof Francis
The jet stream, as its name suggests, is a high-speed air current in the atmosphere that brings with it the weather.
It is fuelled partly by the temperature differential between the Arctic and the mid-latitudes.
If the differential is large then the jet stream speeds up, and like a river flowing down a steep hill, it ploughs through any obstacles – such as areas of high pressure that might be in its way.
If the temperature differential reduces because of a warming Arctic then the jet stream weakens and, again, like a river on a flat bed, it will meander every time it comes across an obstacle.
This results in weather patterns tending to becoming stuck over areas for weeks on end. It also drives cold weather further south and warm weather further north. Examples of the latter are Alaska and parts of Scandinavia, which have had exceptionally warm conditions this winter.
The Latest on: Weather shift
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Weather shift” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Weather shift
- Thunderstorms and heavy rain are returning to California. Here’s a timeline of what to expecton June 5, 2023 at 4:00 am
: Here's when rain and thunderstorms will arrive in the Bay Area Just when you thought it was safe to go out without a raincoat — a big weather shift is coming to the Bay Area this week. Cooler ...
- UK Foreign Office travel warning for Canary Islands over dramatic weather shifton June 5, 2023 at 12:53 am
The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) have activated an orange weather warning in the Canary Islands for wind.
- Warning that Government housing plans may see prices soar by €35,000on June 1, 2023 at 10:00 pm
One of Housing Minister, Darragh O’Brien, latest proposals would see a new Land Value Sharing (LVS) charge introduced. This would hit landowners and developers with a levy of up to 30% on the ...
- Grab your umbrella and jacket; big weather shift in Maine this weekendon June 1, 2023 at 8:22 am
A strong cold front will move through Maine from north to south to kick off the weekend. This will put an end to the hot and dry conditions we’ve been experiencing lately. A run for record highs will ...
- ABC-7 StormTrack Weather: Significant weather shift happens today increasing winds and rain chanceson May 13, 2023 at 4:59 am
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Borderland will see a significant shift in weather patterns beginning today. Rain chances will go up throughout the next week. Wind gusts will also be stronger.
- S&P Says Tech Firm Ratings to Weather Shift Away From Chinaon May 4, 2023 at 6:47 pm
(Bloomberg) -- Credit ratings on the world’s top technology companies are likely to withstand moving production away from China as Beijing-Washington tensions escalate, according to S&P Global Ratings ...
- S&P Says Tech Firm Ratings to Weather Shift Away From Chinaon May 4, 2023 at 6:01 pm
(Bloomberg) -- Credit ratings on the world’s top technology companies are likely to withstand moving production away from China as Beijing-Washington tensions escalate, according to S&P Global Ratings ...
- S&P Says Tech Firm Ratings to Weather Shift Away From Chinaon May 4, 2023 at 6:01 pm
(Bloomberg) -- Credit ratings on the world’s top technology companies are likely to withstand moving production away from China as Beijing-Washington tensions escalate, according to S&P Global Ratings ...
- S&P Says Tech Firm Ratings to Weather Shift Away From Chinaon May 4, 2023 at 6:01 pm
(Bloomberg) -- Credit ratings on the world’s top technology companies are likely to withstand moving production away from China as Beijing-Washington tensions escalate, according to S&P Global Ratings ...
- S&P Says Tech Firm Ratings to Weather Shift Away From Chinaon May 4, 2023 at 6:01 pm
(Bloomberg) -- Credit ratings on the world’s top technology companies are likely to withstand moving production away from China as Beijing-Washington tensions escalate, according to S&P Global ...
via Bing News