Investigation of unpredictable, extreme climate finds possible cause in melting sea ice.
What’s Happening?
This March is turning out to be oddly steamy. Some are calling it “weather weirding.”
Last week, a surreal heat wave affected much of the nation. People rushed to pools and beaches, some farmers planted their crops six weeks early, and trees were in bloom.
This sort of inconsistent and extreme weather is appearing across the globe. And scientists are struggling to fully explain what is going on. However, they have the facts, as follows.
Some scary truths:
- The sea ice cap has shrunk about 40 percent since the early 1980s.
- The area of the Arctic Ocean affected is the size of Europe.
- Last year, the U.S. set nearly three new temperature highs for every low.
- This year, the U.S. has set 17 new daily highs for every new daily low*.
- While some in the U.S. shiver, Scotland sets heat records.
- Hundreds of people died in Europe from a severe cold wave in February.
- Tree crop damage from cold spell is likely to be in the millions of dollars.
Explanations
An area of the Arctic Ocean has lost a drastic amount of its ice. It is now dark, open water in the summer instead of reflective like it used to be.
The ocean is absorbing extra heat and releasing it to the atmosphere in the fall and early winter.
“The question really is not whether the loss of the sea ice can be affecting the atmospheric circulation on a large scale,” said Jennifer A. Francis, a Rutgers University climate researcher.
“The question is, how can it not be, and what are the mechanisms?”
Humans’ role
What people are doing matters. Greenhouse gases are the main culprit.
The gases are causing the Arctic to warm faster than the rest of the planet, and this is melting the sea ice.
If nothing is done, these weather swings will most likely continue.
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