Work

Evidence for a wavier jet stream in response to rapid Arctic warming

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: New metrics and evidence are presented that support a linkage between rapid Arctic warming, relative to Northern hemisphere mid-latitudes, and more frequent high-amplitude (wavy) jet-stream configurations that favor persistent weather patterns. We find robust relationships among seasonal and regional patterns of weaker poleward thickness gradients, weaker zonal upper-level winds, and a more meridional flow direction. These results suggest that as the Arctic continues to warm faster than elsewhere in response to rising greenhouse-gas concentrations, the frequency of extreme weather events caused by persistent jet-stream patterns will increase.

Source: Environmental Research Letters

DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/10/1/014005

Authors: Jennifer A Francis, Stephen J Vavrus

Institutions: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Language: English

Topic: Climate variability and models

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,045