ARCTIC POLAR VORTEX CHANGE DIRECTIONS AND COULD LEAD TO AFFECT ON GLOBAL WEATHER

With winds of up to 155 miles per hour, the polar vortex is a vast ocean current that revolves around the Arctic. However, over the past few years, the vortex has been steadily growing faster and faster due to the effects of climate change. The vortex's trajectory changed most recently on March 4 when it began rotating counterclockwise.

We know that it is common for polar vortexes to alter their trajectory for days, weeks, or even months at a time because scientists have been studying this phenomenon for a long time. This typically occurs when stratospheric temperatures rise by about 90°F over a few days, and that is exactly what occurred in the first part of March.

The winds on the vortex are starting to slow down, according to NOAA's Polar Vortex Blog, suggesting that it will most likely soon return to normal. Polar vortex disruptions have historically had a global impact on weather patterns. For instance, in 2019 the United States Midwest experienced a severe cold front as a result of the vortex breaking up into smaller currents. The polar vortex will continue to disrupt, most likely more frequently as climate change worsens.

There will also be an increase in the frequency and severity of other natural disasters, such as tornadoes and hurricanes. Narratives such as these highlight how critical it is to combat climate change and minimise the damage humans cause to the environment.