Earlier this month, scientists were taken aback by an unexpected change in the direction of the Arctic’s polar vortex. This shift, which took place around March 4, is considered one of the six strongest events of its kind since 1979, according to climate scientist Amy Butler of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The polar vortex is a large rotating mass of icy cold air that forms high in the atmosphere near the North Pole. It is sustained by a strong wind current that circulates around the polar region from west to east, with its strongest presence during winter. These winds can reach speeds of about 155 miles per hour, similar to the minimum wind speed for a Category 5 hurricane, and are often called polar night jets.
The recent change in the direction of the polar vortex has been attributed to “sudden stratospheric warming events,” which caused an influx of ozone from lower latitudes around the Arctic. This increase in temperature led to an unexpected reversal in the rotation of the polar vortex. The reported jump in ozone levels is the largest observed in March since 1979.
While extreme weather conditions are usually associated with these changes in direction, no such severe weather occurred as a result. Amy Butler noted that despite
