Arctic Sea Ice Reaches its Largest Early February Ice Cover From the Past 11 Years

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The winter was mild across much of Eurasia and North America.

Meanwhile, the cold air that remained in the polar circle helped the Arctic Sea to reach its largest February ice cover in the past 11 years.

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Rapid ice grow in the Arctic in February 2020. Arctic sea ice reaches the largest early February ice area in the past 11 years. Sea Ice Map via Severe Weather Europe

Let’s talk about climate warming guys! While mid-latitudes experienced a rather mild winter, the arctic cold air trapped in the polar circle helped the growth and recovery of the polar icecap. Yes, the ice is growing up North and it has reached its largest early February ice cover in the past 11 years.

As shown in the below animation, there is a Arctic rapid sea ice growth between September 2019 and February 2020:

The second animation shows the Arctic sea ice thickening between September 2019 to February 2020:

Here the polar sea ice extent diagramm

Arctic Sea Ice Extent record in February 2020
Arctic Sea Ice Extent record in February 2020.

The Polar vortex and the Arctic Oscillation

The Arctic Oscillation (AO) is an atmospheris circulation pattern characterized by winds circulating counterclockwise around the Arctic at around 55°N latitude.

The most obvious reflection of the phase of this oscillation is the north-to-south location of the storm-steering, mid-latitude jet stream.

Positive Arctic Oscillation

When the AO is ‘positive’, a ring of strong winds circulating around the North Pole acts to confine colder air across polar regions.

During a positive AO, lower-than-average air pressure over the Arctic are paired with higher-than-average pressure over the northern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

The jet stream is farther north than average under these conditions.

Thus, the mid-latitudes of North America, Europe, Siberia, and East Asia generally see fewer cold air outbreaks than usual.

Negative Arctic Oscillation

In its negative phase, the AO is weaker and more distorted, allowing southward penetration of colder, arctic airmasses and increased storminess into the mid-latitudes.

In this case, the AO has higher-than-average air pressure over the Arctic region and lower-than-average pressure over the northern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

The jet stream shifts toward the equator under these conditions, so the globe-encircling river of air is south of its average position.

Consequently, mid-latitudes are more likely to experience outbreaks of frigid, polar air during winters.

Positive Arctic Oscillation Right Now!

We are currently in a positive state, with a very strong jet stream, farther north than average and cold air concentrated in the polar regions.

That ‘positive’ Arctic Oscillation is responsible for:

  • the mild winter in the United States and parts of Europe,
  • the ice recovery currently taking place around the North Pole.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, in Antarctica, scientists have recorded the warmest temperature ever measured on the continent. But again it’s summer over there! More news about extreme weather phenomena on Strange Sounds and Steve Quayle. You better also follow [Severe Weather Europe] for their amazing forecast!

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2 Comments

  1. That damned Al Gore…this is all HIS fault-if he had kept his big yap shut we could have kept on with the global warming thing and this would not be happening…

  2. People in North America does not care about many diseases comes from Ice melting and vice versa in part of world. Corona Virus very well is not a virus is something else but order has been issued to say is SARS 2.0 even in USA or Vancouver Canada we have seen new grand openings for buffet and sea foods comes from China. I declare New Wuhan is all buffet places brand new or old selling Chinese foods or Asians or any other nations lets put it please avoid , Cinemas, Malls, bus stations, and hospitals as much as possible. Basically no one cares i do not see masks or gloves or big eye protections. When North America goes to phase 2 and 3 Martial Law and UN occupies the globe. We are all hanged together or separately. I went to Walmart. Nobody was wearing masks or gloves. There was 2 slant eyed people in there that i stayed away from.. i was pushing the basket realized i didn’t satirize the handle. Thinking great just great. No gloves on. Forgot. Some old woman coughed on my isle and i couldn’t get away fast enough. Everybody walking by me weirded me out. I thought damn. I hope this s.o.b. hasn’t got anything. I felt like i was in a corona-virus manufacturing plant. After seeing no one with masks on. I thought whats wrong with these people. Am i in a twilight zone.? Please do not change your TV dial?

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