An Extraordinary Winter in the Polar North

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https://eos.org/research-spotlights/an-extraordinary-winter-in-the-polar-north

Source:  By Kate Wheeling, Eos/AGU. 

Excerpt: The winter of 2019–2020 in the Northern Hemisphere was one of extremes. The massive region of cold polar air encircled by stratospheric winds, known as the stratospheric polar vortex, was particularly strong, keeping the frigid air whirling above the polar region and leading to a very mild winter in many regions farther south. The strong polar vortex coincided with a record-breaking positive Arctic Oscillation circulation pattern and record low ozone levels in the Arctic that lasted into spring. In a review, published as part of an AGU special collection, Lawrence et al.outline the unique conditions that allowed this “truly extraordinary” winter season to arise....  

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