Here is an explanation as to why we, and all of the northern hemisphere, have had significantly below normal temperatures....we are in a negative arctic oscillation....the most severe since 1950. And as you might expect, it has nothing to do with global warming, or global cooling. It is just a large scale atmospheric event, where the arctic for the past month or so, has been much warmer than normal.....10 to 15 degrees F warmer.
For an image of northern hemisphere temperature anomalies from NASA Earth Observatory, click here.
Future implications? See this article in the New Zealand News which discusses the effects of this negative oscillation (high pressure over the arctic) with the formation of arctic sea ice and future reflectivity.....it may either accelerate global warming through less sea ice coverage, or it may reduce global warming by increasing the thickness and stability of older sea ice. Above photo: Prime Hook Jan 8, 2010, click to enlarge.
No comments:
Post a Comment