Europe's deadly cold snap may have a lot to do with shrinking amounts of ice in the Arctic, a recent study suggests.
Nearly 300 deaths have been reported across the continent, with snow accumulations not seen in five decades reported in some places. Warsaw, Poland, has seen 11 days of temperatures well below average, with a coldest reading of 35 below zero Fahrenheit.
As warmer air rises into the stratosphere over the Arctic, colder surface air moves south bringing storms to Europe.
Scientists at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Potsdam, Germany, say the frigid, snowy European winter has its origins in a warm Arctic summer.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that July 2011 was the fourth-warmest July on record. A warm summer in the Arctic cuts the amount of sea ice. NOAA reports that sea-ice levels last July were the lowest in three decades.
The effect is twofold, the Wegener scientists report.
First, less ice means less solar heat is reflected back into the atmosphere. Rather, it is absorbed into the darker ocean waters. Second, once that heat is in the ocean, the reduced ice cap allows the heat to more easily escape into the air just above the ocean's surface.
Because warmer air tends to rise, the moisture-laden air near the ocean's surface rises, creating instability in the atmosphere and changing air-pressure patterns, the scientists say.
One pattern, called the Arctic Oscillation, normally pushes warm Atlantic air over Europe and keeps Arctic air over the poles.
But in mid-January this year, the Arctic Oscillation abruptly changed, allowing the jet stream to plunge into Siberia and push cold and snowy weather over much of Europe.
Similar situations have emerged the past two years.
Check out some more reports on what this winter's been like, both in the U.S. and around the world:
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ITS CALLED WINTER...........DAAAAHHHH
The graphic also shows much colder air over North America and the mid-west and great lakes. That hasn't happened so I don't buy this analysis.
Aqui no Brasil está um calor pra burro!
I love it: "Shrinking ice caps may be the blame." Despite the obvious, the tree huggers and "global warming" whackos have to try to keep up their deception to preserve their money-driven, selfish agendas.
What is the "obvious"?
There's a good sheep. Do what your Republican masters tell you to. I'd recommend going back to school. You don't seem to understand what science is.
It's called "climate change" for a reason you pinhead. Of course no one expects someone with such obvious low intelligence to understand something as relatively complex as world weather patterns.
Maybe the increasing ice in Antarctica is to blame. It is very unusual for the ice to even still be at the poles yet. It should all be gone in the next 50 to 100 years. Then Europe wont have to worry about cold any more. Read more at cnn/bs.com
Climate change will end at start of next Ice Age
SWEET..Ice age. Pay less on Air Conditioning and far less humidity. WINNING
Because it's winter.
Wow! Like they never used to have winters like this? Once brainwashed into believing the global warming scenario is manmade they can't objectively study the data, it is always jaded by their subjective agenda. It is sad. At least they noted the existence of the Arctic Oscillation and that it has an impact upon our global weather patterns.
It's the worst in 50 years. Keep on denying what thinking people all over the world understand already to be true.
The Republicans say dirty unregulated air won't hurt us, then why is China covered in smog.
because its a shW%#t hole
Why make this into a Republican/Democart issue? You know that John Kerry makes a ton of money speculating in oil, don't you?
Penturner – you're not serious are you? Or do you never follow public policy? Or read the comments on this page? The Republican Party is the last refuge of folks scared of science, of climate change deniers and Creationists. Basically, the last refuge for people whose world view is still stuck in the 16th century.
They never give up. When it's too warm – it's global warming, when it's too cold, it's also global warming. Look, maybe there is something to this, but these researchers are constantly guessing and providing evidence to support a political agenda which I find infuriating and as such difficult to trust at all.
the problem with global warming is that the earths temperature causes the climate patterns to change. They are not stating that the whole world is just hotter and winter goes away. there is much more SCIENCE to it. Also, understand that they don't know everything, but are in a constant state of study for understanding our weather and its patterns and how human beings have affected the planet. If you don't honestly think that we are not having an effect on the environment, then I'd recommend googleing a picture of the earth at night. where do those lights all come from?
You don't understand the difference between climate and weather.
light bulbs?
The real reason is that cow fart production is down by 13 percent this year. This is the 35th lowest recorded since measurements began in 1979. This has caused less GHG's than expected affecting the NAO and GFS significantly. Read more at cnn/bs.com.
DEC. 13TH, I WILL BE LMAO AT YOU FOOD.
We've been in a cooling period for TWO THOUSAND YEARS. It's natural people. Unless you think the Roman Empire was producing coal fired energy, of course. Facts really do stink, don't they?
I'm not sure where you get your data, but the scientific facts of global warming are the fact that the average temperature of the earth is getting hotter. ummm, it kind of says it in the name. I know that politicians that would loose something by having to regulate big business have much more credibility than scientists who study this phenomenon out of curiosity. Study the facts of it, not the politics of it. Think of who actually has something to gain and who actually has something to loose here. If you don't think that big business would keep going until the world failed, then look at Easter Island. Those guys cut down the last tree to make those big heads and then said "now what? where's the shade?"
The Shrinking ice caps make it colder in Europe, but warmer in North America – at the same time –
I don't think so, Tim.
Probably because you have no idea what you are talking about. It's called a jet stream, look into it. There's a reason Vancouver is warm and toasty in comparison to Buffalo, which is actually further south.
The reality is that most people don't really want to understand this. They want to do what they are told and keep driving their gas guzzler. Forget the environment. not my problem. it's pretty sad that most people want to put their head in the sand. it's also pretty sad that our politicians can't deal with this honestly. I'd have much more respect if they said that it was just too expensive to change instead not "believing" in it, like global warming is a religion. pure crazy.
The sky is falling ! The sky is falling !
What a condesending non-article. CNN wants an answer for the weather . . . NOW ! Guess they keep asking till they find one they like and then put it here for everyone to see and believe. CNN must supply immediate answers to any and all inquiries. Instant gratification for all their Facebook Scientists.
Global warming is being caused by the return of the Mayan sun god Kinich Ahau. Know this and tremble with fear and awe.
If it rains, its Global Warming, if its Dry its Global Warming, if the seas are choppy its Global Warming, if the seas are calm its Global Warming, if its a sunny day 72 degrees its Global Warming if its Extremely cold its Global Warming, if its Extremely warm its Global Warming. Funny..... Global Warming can explain any weather scenario or pattern. I cannot foresee any weather pattern that cannot be explained by Global Warming. There were even reports of increased climate activity in Jupiter, and THAT to was explained by Global Warming. Science is a fantastic tool. But its use here seems very unscientific, and more political.