The Arctic has a reputation for frigid temperatures and dark, icy winters. These extreme conditions are allocated to disproportionately Earth's poles, but why is this? These cold traps are created by an incessant vortex of cold air that spins anti-clockwise around the planet in the atmosphere above the Antarctic and Arctic. These low-pressure bands of air are called the polar vortex.
Most of the time, the Arctic polar vortex stays near the pole. But its strength is always changing, causing its border to alter in shape and size. When it edges closer to the equator, the regions below it experience sudden gusts of wind. At the edge of a polar vortex is a jet stream. This circulation of air is usually lower in altitude and latitude than the vortex, and its speed is controlled by the temperature difference of the surrounding air, as well as the rotation of Earth. When the jet stream aligns with the vortex at the same latitude, the cold air is trapped at the pole and the vortex increases in strength.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Bu hikaye How It Works UK dergisinin Issue 176 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye How It Works UK dergisinin Issue 176 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
THE POWER OF WATER
We're hooked on fossil fuels. But hydroelectric power is becoming an increasingly important replacement for coal and oil
EXPLORING THE MOON'S CAVES
Earth's rocky neighbour is home to a network of unexplored caves, and scientists are keen to take a peek inside
HOW TO ELECT THE PRESIDENT
The campaigns, votes and elections that put someone in America's most powerful office
WHAT IS MORNING SICKNESS?
Why some pregnancies can cause nausea and vomiting
20 WEIRDEST SCIENCE MYSTERIES
From dark matter to deep-sea crabs, science still can't fully explain these strange quirks of nature
THE TRIANGULUM GALAXY SHINES IN A NEW HUBBLE IMAGE
A nearby galaxy is shining with star formation in a new image from the Hubble Space Telescope.
The world's fastest charger fully powers smartphones in five minutes
Scientists have revealed the fastest battery-charging technology in the world for smartphones, which can fully charge a smartphone in less than five minutes.
Real-time brain stimulation slashes Parkinson's symptoms by half in trials
Brain stimulation that rapidly adjusts in real-time can dramatically reduce Parkinson’s symptoms, an early trial suggests.
The hottest ocean temperature in 400 years threatens the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is facing the hottest sea surface temperatures in four centuries.
Massive medieval coin hoard worth about 150 sheep' discovered
Archaeologists in Germany have unearthed over 1,500 medieval silver coins after a citizen noticed what looked like ‘small metal plates’ while digging during a construction project.
