[NatureNS] cause of unusual winter ?

DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed;
References: <20120322132558.K8ODL.159604.root@tormtz03> <sig.1428ad79ea.4F6B875B.30878.770A8D@ulli.dunlin.ca>
From: Richard Stern <sternrichard@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:34:22 -0300
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <naturens-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects

Index of Subjects
--14dae9340c7d10aefa04bbdbad14
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hi,

A few years ago there was a nice article in the New Scientist outlning
various models of what is likely to happen in the N.Atlantic and adjacent
land masses with current global warming trends. They suggested that the
melting of the polar ice cap would allow more fresh water to flow into the
northern N.Atlantic, reduce salinity, and cause sinking of the surface Gulf
stream, which would paradoxically cool Europe and cause harsher Winters
there. At the same time the Labrador current would weaken, causing warmer
winters in N.E.N.America. Seems to be a fairly accurate predictor of what's
going on!

Richard

On Thu, Mar 22, 2012 at 6:15 PM, Rick Whitman <
dendroica.caerulescens@gmail.com> wrote:

> I agree with Ulli & Chris but with regards to North America's winter
> this year I recall reading or hearing that the jet stream failed to
> develop its great big N/S loops this winter. These loops allow big
> Arctic outflows to the south & once down "here", they more or less do
> the typical west to east shuffle. This winter the jet stream tended to
> be straight west to east, holding the Arctic air to the north.
>
> The jet stream the past few days was a huge curve which was perfectly
> positioned to direct & focus the air we've had. I like to look at the
> jet steam map. As it happens, you get a nice temperature graphic at
> the same time.
>
> Note the jet stream is now closer to straight, also that the map is
> always for the next day.
>
> http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/jet_stream/index_e.html
>
> Rick Whitman
>
> On Thu, Mar 22, 2012 at 5:33 PM, Christopher Majka
> <c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:
> > Indeed, Ulli is correct. "Global warming" is a bit of a misnomer, and
> > certainly an oversimplification. Climate change is a much better term.
> And,
> > in general, the effects of climate change are so as to accentuate
> climatic
> > patterns; more droughts and more extreme droughts; more rainfall and
> > flooding, more extreme weather events (tornados, hurricanes, hail storms,
> > ice storms), more frequent and more intense El Ninos/La Nina. This is all
> > set against the backdrop of increasing global temperature. The extreme
> cold
> > temperatures this winter in Europe are also characteristic of the
> hitherto
> > established climatic norm being run off the rails.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > On 22-Mar-12, at 5:11 PM, ulli@dunlin.ca wrote:
> >
> >> Just curious: Why do you think it is not related to global warming?
> >>
> >> There is this misconception that "global warming" means it gets warmer
> >> everywhere.  It
> >> would better to refer to this phenomenon as climate change, as it is
> >> expected/accepted that
> >> even with the average increase of the global temperature by a few
> degrees
> >> we will see not
> >> everywhere an up in temperature.
> >>
> >> What is expected and can already be seen -if you want to- is a shift in
> >> weather patterns and
> >> climate zones.
> >>
> >> Warmer winters than usual in one place, caused by "global warming", go
> >> conform with colder
> >> winters than usual in other parts of the world.  Same applies to
> >> precipitation, where we likely
> >> will see new arid zones appearing, while former deserts may see a bit
> more
> >> precipitation than
> >> in the past, as well as to a shift in oceanic water current patterns.
> >>
> >> As a result patterns and frequency of phenomenons like El Nino are very
> >> likely also
> >> influenced by all this, hence also under the influence of global
> >> warming/climate change.
> >>
> >>
> >> Ulli
> >>
> >>>  Just curious: Has anyone read anything about the possible causes of
> this
> >>> year's very mild and generally snowless winter in North America?
> >>>  Clearly, it isn't global warming, as Eurasia had a very cold and snowy
> >>> winter. You may remember news reports about the Danube River being
> choked
> >>> with ice for much of its length, an unprecedented number of deaths
> --mainly
> >>> of the homeless-- due to the frost in Eastern Europe, and villagers in
> the
> >>> former Yugoslavia being snowed in for weeks. Etc., etc.
> >>>  Is it the La Nina/El Nino phenomenon? Other ocean circulation
> >>> fluctuations? Solar flares, or lack thereof?
> >>>  Dusan Soudek
>



-- 
#################
Dr.R.B.Stern,
P.O. Box 300,
Port Williams,
N.S., Canada,
B0P 1T0
Richard Stern,
Port Williams, NS, Canada
sternrichard@gmail.com
###################

--14dae9340c7d10aefa04bbdbad14
Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Hi,<br><br>A few years ago there was a nice article in the New Scientist ou=
tlning various models of what is likely to happen in the N.Atlantic and adj=
acent land masses with current global warming trends. They suggested that t=
he melting of the polar ice cap would allow more fresh water to flow into t=
he northern N.Atlantic, reduce salinity, and cause sinking of the surface G=
ulf stream, which would paradoxically cool Europe and cause harsher Winters=
 there. At the same time the Labrador current would weaken, causing warmer =
winters in N.E.N.America. Seems to be a fairly accurate predictor of what&#=
39;s going on!<br>

<br>Richard<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Thu, Mar 22, 2012 at 6:15 =
PM, Rick Whitman <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:dendroica.caerules=
cens@gmail.com">dendroica.caerulescens@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><=
blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px=
 #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">

I agree with Ulli &amp; Chris but with regards to North America&#39;s winte=
r<br>
this year I recall reading or hearing that the jet stream failed to<br>
develop its great big N/S loops this winter. These loops allow big<br>
Arctic outflows to the south &amp; once down &quot;here&quot;, they more or=
 less do<br>
the typical west to east shuffle. This winter the jet stream tended to<br>
be straight west to east, holding the Arctic air to the north.<br>
<br>
The jet stream the past few days was a huge curve which was perfectly<br&