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Editorial
. 2019 Dec 9;10(1):5578.
doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-13714-0.

A tug-of-war over the mid-latitudes

No authors listed
Editorial

A tug-of-war over the mid-latitudes

No authors listed. Nat Commun. .

Abstract

The amplified warming of the Arctic in recent decades has been related to extreme weather events over the mid-latitudes, but its relative importance compared to other influences is not yet well understood. A Nature Research collection highlights evidence from theoretical and observational studies, as well as implications for future extreme events.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Arctic sea ice and the mid-latitude jet stream.
The mid-latitude jet stream, shown here in red, is one of the components of the atmospheric circulation that is expected to change with Arctic amplification and decreasing sea ice. For example, the reduced temperature gradient between the two latitudinal bands can cause a weaker and more meandering jet stream. This causes increasingly persistent weather patterns, which in turn can result in extreme events. [Image from NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Screen JA, et al. Consistency and discrepancy in the atmospheric response to Arctic sea-ice loss across climate models. Nat. Geosci. 2018;11.3:155. doi: 10.1038/s41561-018-0059-y. - DOI

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