Frozen 2? More like Warming 2!

As unbelievable as it may seem to those in the Midwest dealing with cooler temperatures, global warming is still a prominent issue in the United States. It is important to continue to raise awareness of this issue no matter the weather outside. "Yes, it's cold in the U.S. Midwest and parts of Canada," said meteorologist Steve Bowen of insurance firm Aon. "But overall, the globe is still anomalously warm” (USA Today). While it might be cold in the Midwest, it is definitely not the same everywhere else. However, what some do not realize is that cold can actually be caused by global warming. I know! How does the planet warming up cause our weather to become cooler?

    As a matter of fact, the warming Arctic affects the jet stream which blows cool air down towards the United States. “The jet stream is the river of air up in the atmosphere that steers weather around”(USA Today). This is how we get Polar Vortex type weather such as last winter. It became so cold to the point where school had to be cancelled, which is not as common as you would think in the Midwest. Except it is becoming more and more common, which is not a positive thing! When the Arctic heats up quickly it allows the Jet Stream to become wavy and off balanced, which is one of the reasons Chicago reached such low temperatures last winter. There are many scientists who have been studying and focusing on this exact topic, in order to find solutions. A study in 2015 in the journal Science reported that the rapid warming of the Arctic makes for a more wavy jet stream, with waves that move more slowly across the globe”(USA Today). Feel free to check the study out here!

    As the temperatures continue to drop this winter keep in mind the bigger picture! Try to reduce your carbon footprint to help the earth improve. For you winter lovers out there, don’t worry there will still be snow. However, it is our duty to help the Earth and ensure the jet stream stays where it is supposed to be. Next time school is cancelled due to freezing temperatures, think to yourself how could I help prevent this? How did the weather occur to be this way? Is there a way to fix this in the future? With the help of the world, hopefully our Midwest winters could become a lot less brutal (even though they will always be rough).