Summer weather patterns in Europe, North America and parts of Asia are expected to stall, according to new research that explores the link between Arctic warming and increasingly persistent and dangerous heatwaves. Rising Arctic temperatures mean that the jet stream and other major planetary winds have seen their circulation slow, resulting in high and low pressure fronts becoming stuck. The study published today by scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) found a strong connection between these blocking patterns, which can lead to extreme heat waves or droughts, and changes in atmospheric circulation. Such extremes are expected to reduce agricultural production and damage human health.
Summer weather patterns in Europe, North America and parts of Asia are expected to stall, according to new research that explores the link between Arctic warming and increasingly persistent and dangerous heatwaves. Rising Arctic temperatures mean that the jet stream and other major planetary winds have seen their circulation slow, resulting in high and low pressure fronts becoming stuck. This means that weather is less able to moderate itself, and could result in “very extreme extremes” of heatwaves, wildfires and floods. Such extremes are expected to reduce agricultural production and damage human health.