A Warming Arctic Can Actually Make Our Winters Colder

The years of 2014-2015 were riddled with strange weather patterns, especially when it came to the winter months. Whether is was snow, frigid temperatures (or lack thereof, I'm looking at you, Chicago), or any other record breaking phenomenon, those years were harsh on us all. These extreme winters are noticeably becoming more common, especially in the United States. 

Image by NASA, found on original article.

The culprit? Why, it's the warming Arctic! The warming of climate change is shifting the polar voretx, leading to colder winters. The polar vortex is an airflow that moves counter-clockwise, keeping cold air near the poles. But, when the ice in these regions melts, the ocean begins to release more warmth, which is stated to rise as much as 18 miles up into the stratosphere. This weakens the flow of counter-clockwise moving air, giving cold air a chance to escape further south. This is why colder winters are more and more likely.
While "global warming" continues to be a phrase thrown around, it is important to recognize that its meaning is not just warming. Some areas may have unnaturally warm winters while others believe the next ice age is upon us. 

Original Article by Kendra Pierre-Louis found here: http://www.popsci.com/warm-arctic-cold-winter